Pete Alonso and the Mets should savor this, the longball that put the Polar Bear atop the Mets' all-time homer list. Alonso has broken Darryl Strawberry’s club record with his 253rd career blast, and it’s a grand accomplishment for a remarkable Met, one of the best in franchise history.
The big blow came in the bottom of the third on Tuesday night, as Alonso crushed a 95 mph first pitch fastball from Braves right-hander Spencer Strider 394 feet the other way into the bullpen.
Amidst relishing Alonso’s milestone, however, it’s hard not to think about his future in Flushing, too. He can opt out of the two-year, $54-million deal he signed before spring training this year and take what should be a more satisfying swig from the free agent chalice than last winter, when he lingered on the market.
The Mets shouldn’t let that happen. This record has only strengthened already-deep bonds between Alonso, the Mets, and Mets fans and the club should do what it takes to keep Alonso in Queens long-term.
Make him a Forever Met.
There is something about nurturing a franchise icon. The Mets’ past is littered with divorces from their boldface names, including the previous record-holder in home runs, Strawberry. Tom Seaver should never have worn another uniform. Ever. The club got it right with David Wright and the Mets enjoyed a great feel-good day last month when Wright’s No. 5 was retired and that was just a slice of what Wright being an Only Met brings the franchise.
Alonso deserves something similar. If he sticks around for the rest of his playing career, he’ll probably put the franchise’s homer mark out of reach for everyone, maybe even Juan Soto, who’s going to be around for another 14 years.
Alonso’s power credentials are impeccable. It’s only right that he holds the career home run record for the Mets, since he has many of their other big fly marks, too.
Most in a single season? Yep – he hit 53 in 2019 to set the club record and the MLB record for home runs by a rookie. Mets to homer in the All-Star Game? Check – Alonso did it this year in Atlanta to join Lee Mazzilli (1979) and Wright (2006) as the only Mets to homer in the Midsummer Classic.
He’s the first Met to have five 30-homer seasons. Every single season he’s completed as a Met, Alonso has led the team in home runs. In his six full seasons prior to this one, here are his ranks among the National League home run leaders: first, third, third, second, third, fifth.
He was the fifth player in MLB history to have three 40-homer seasons in the first five years of his career, joining Ralph Kiner, Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols and Eddie Mathews.
Any list he’s on is a who’s who of brawn. After his second season – remember, 2020 was shortened by the pandemic – he had 69 career home runs. Only five players had more after their first two seasons and all of them played many more games than Alonso in that span. The players? Four Hall-of-Famers (Joe DiMaggio, Kiner, Mathews and Pujols) and a former MVP (Ryan Braun).
Alonso has always seemed to “get” New York. He’s embraced being a Met and embraced the city, from his goofy phrasemaking – “The boys are hot” – to his 9/11 cleats. It hasn’t all been perfect, nothing is. He even fell out of favor with some Met fans toward the end of last season, which was not his most productive campaign. Some were anticipating him going elsewhere in free agency and were fine with it.
Then he crushed the Brewers’ souls with that dramatic home run in the finale of the Wild Card Series in Milwaukee. It’s one of the biggest hacks in franchise history and it was the calling card of a big postseason in which Alonso had a .999 OPS, four home runs and 10 RBI in 13 games. Fans who were ambivalent about Alonso warmed up to a return.
The real conversations about Alonso’s future may not take place until the winter. Hopefully, Alonso, the Boras Corporation and the Mets can work it out. Both sides have to want it.
But, from the Mets’ standpoint, this should not be about “winning” the transaction. This is not about roster construction or siphoning value out of an under-appreciated part of the player market.
Yes, Alonso is on the wrong side of 30 (he’ll be 31 in December) and he is not the kind of versatile, athletic, youthful player that makes front offices swoon nowadays. So what? There are qualities beyond value that can bolster an organization. The Steve Cohen Mets have the kind of money and the willingness to spend it that they can gamble on Alonso wanting to be great into his mid-30s. And maybe beyond.
Barely anyone in the Majors has the kind of power Alonso does. Only Aaron Judge (269 home runs entering play Aug. 5) and Kyle Schwarber (252 entering play Aug. 5) have hit more home runs since Alonso entered the majors.
And give Alonso credit for something else he’s done this year – in a season where few Mets are producing with runners in scoring position, which has held the team back, he is batting .328 with a 1.164 OPS in such situations (entering play Aug. 5).
Alonso has been a great Met for years and him grabbing Strawberry’s record is a reminder that there’s a looming decision for Alonso, for both sides. A new deal in Queens would not just be paying him for what he’s done in the past. Power can age well, too. What if Alonso has five more 40-homer seasons in his bat?
There’s plenty of value in retaining a franchise icon. Historically, the Mets have missed some big chances. They’ve got an opportunity now to keep one in Alonso.
Do it.
