NEW YORK — Prior to his press conference on Wednesday to conclude an exciting season, David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for the New York Mets, encountered free agent Pete Alonso at Citi Field.
“I mentioned that I was about to tackle many questions concerning him, and he responded with a ‘Good luck!’” Stearns said with a smile.
“He’s an exceptional Met, and I genuinely hope we can bring him back. We both recognize that this is a process, with everyone having their own priorities. Pete certainly deserves the opportunity to explore the free agent market and make the best decision for himself and his family.”
Alonso’s future stands out as a critical topic for the Mets as they head into an offseason filled with significant decisions, following a surprising playoff journey that concluded on Sunday with a Game 6 defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
“Perhaps we ran out of steam toward the end. We had to push our players hard from June 1 onward because it was essential,” Stearns noted. “Each game in the regular season mattered greatly, and the same was true for the postseason. Additionally, we faced an exceptionally skilled Dodgers team that was playing outstanding baseball.”
To challenge the Dodgers in the upcoming season, along with fierce rivals Philadelphia and Atlanta within their division, the Mets must strengthen their pitching lineup.
Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91 ERA) and Jose Quintana (10-10, 3.75) are on the verge of becoming free agents. Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47) is also expected to decline his $13.5 million player option for 2025, joining his fellow pitchers on the free-agent market.
Together, these three seasoned pitchers contributed to 94 regular-season starts and made 10 additional appearances in the playoffs as New York fell just two victories short of reaching the World Series.
“This situation isn’t new for us. We faced a similar challenge last offseason. We will need to find ways to replace those innings,” Stearns explained. “Some of that could potentially involve those pitchers returning, but we might also seek other options. Strengthening our starting pitching is imperative, and we recognize that need.”
Stearns has a proven track record in discovering pitching talent, not only this year with the Mets but also during his tenure with the small-market Milwaukee Brewers.
He signed Severino and Manaea to short-term contracts last winter, and both significantly contributed to the team’s success.
“There are no strict rules for me,” Stearns remarked. “Looking at the history of long-term investments in pitchers, the results aren’t always promising. However, there are pitchers in their mid to late-30s who continue to perform well. If we can identify such players, there could be exceptions.”
High-profile free agents, including Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Blake Snell, provide potential top-of-the-rotation options. Burnes, who turned 30 recently, was drafted and developed by the Brewers when Stearns was in leadership. He won the 2021 NL Cy Young Award with Milwaukee before being traded to Baltimore last offseason.
“It’s still early to precisely determine our strategy,” Stearns mentioned. “I expect we will be active during free agency.”
Once contract options are finalized next month, the Mets are projected to see over $100 million come off their record-high 2024 payroll of $332 million under owner Steve Cohen.
“We possess financial flexibility, allowing access to virtually the entire player market. That presents a significant opportunity. I envision us taking advantage of that and being aggressive in selective areas,” Stearns added.
“However, we also want to ensure our actions do not limit our future options, hindering our ability to consistently develop and enhance our core group.”
Alonso, who had a salary of $20.5 million this past season, finished with a batting average of .240, hitting 34 home runs and driving in 88 RBIs while achieving a .788 OPS over 162 regular-season games. While his performance dipped compared to previous years, the fan-favorite first baseman was notably effective during the playoffs and delivered crucial home runs, along with 12 walks in 13 games.
“We have fond memories from this postseason,” Stearns reflected. “However, it’s also essential to look forward and explore ways to build on this trajectory to ensure true sustainable competitiveness, something this organization has struggled with for years.”
Alonso, who turns 30 in December, is represented by well-known agent Scott Boras.
“Pete’s identity as a person, his significance to this franchise, and his contributions on the field all hold great importance. There isn’t a straightforward answer to our situation,” Stearns noted.
“Honestly, Pete and I haven’t really discussed his contract directly. These discussions are generally more suitable with a player’s representative. However, our conversations about the team have been numerous. He is deeply invested in our group and was certainly a key player for us this year, delivering critical hits down the stretch.”
