LOS ANGELES — Pete Alonso appeared taken aback as he reflected on the abrupt ending of the season, and perhaps, his career with the New York Mets.
“Honestly, I’m a bit in shock that this season has come to a close,” he stated after the Mets’ elimination at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won 10-5 in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.
Alonso recorded a .273 batting average with four home runs and 10 RBIs during the postseason. Having earned $20.5 million this year, the first baseman is now eligible for free agency for the first time and is set to turn 30 in December.
“I have a deep love for this team and this organization,” Alonso shared. “The fans have treated not just me, but my family, so well. I truly love New York, playing in Queens, and this group is something special. The memories we’ve made together are incredible. This is the essence of why we play baseball: to experience that togetherness, overcome challenges, and achieve greatness together. I crave more moments like this.”
The Mets faced a challenging start to the season, beginning with an 0-5 record and standing at 22-33 before a pivotal players-only meeting in late May, following a series sweep by the Dodgers at Citi Field. This meeting catalyzed a significant turnaround, and they finished with an 89-73 record, clinching the National League’s final wild card spot with a critical victory in Atlanta on the scheduled final day of the regular season. Their postseason journey included a comeback win in the ninth inning of Game 3 in the Wild Card Series, followed by an upset over NL East champion Philadelphia to reach the League Championship Series for the first time since 2015.
“It’s never straightforward to navigate such challenges, but we kept finding ways to succeed,” remarked first-year manager Carlos Mendoza. “Sadly, that wasn’t the case during this series. Now we’re heading home, but this should be our standard every year as we aim to play deep into October.”
Under owner Steve Cohen, who purchased the Mets from the Wilpons four seasons ago, New York led Major League Baseball with a staggering $332 million payroll and is projected to pay a $96 million luxury tax.
Both pitchers Jose Quintana and Luis Severino are also pending free agents, while Sean Manaea has a player option he might decline to explore free agency.
“It has been an amazing roller-coaster ride,” shortstop Francisco Lindor commented. “We’ve achieved so much together as a team and as individuals. We became a family and overcame various challenges together. I truly believe something good is taking place here. Losing hurts, and it’ll stay with me for a while, but this year has helped me grow as a player and as a person.”
Lindor remains under contract through 2031, while outfielder Brandon Nimmo is set through 2030.
Nimmo expressed hope that Alonso would secure a new contract with the Mets.
“He’s an essential part of this team and the fanbase, and we would love to keep him here,” Nimmo noted. “However, I understand that it’s a business, and he will do what’s best for himself and his family.”
Looking ahead, Nimmo believes maintaining stability with president of baseball operations David Stearns and Mendoza in their second year will provide an advantage compared to last offseason.
“I genuinely see this as a launching point. We want to set this as the new standard going forward,” Nimmo added. “There won’t be any surprises for our opponents anymore. Expect teams to come at us with their best efforts as they aim to beat us.”
Potential free agent J.D. Martinez also expressed a desire for the core players to return. When asked about his future, the 37-year-old humorously replied with a single word: “Pickleball.”