NEW YORK — First baseman Pete Alonso will remain with the New York Mets after reaching a two-year contract worth $54 million, according to a source close to the negotiations. This information was shared under the condition of anonymity, as the agreement was initially reported by The New York Post and was pending a successful physical examination.
As part of the deal, Alonso will receive a $10 million signing bonus, alongside salaries of $20 million for this year and $24 million in 2026. Additionally, he has the option to opt out of the contract following the 2025 season, allowing him to explore free agency once more.
The Mets had also put forth a more lucrative offer, a three-year contract valued at $71 million, which included salaries of $27 million for 2025 and $22 million for each of the following two years, with opt-out clauses after the first two seasons.
Alonso, who celebrated his 30th birthday on December 7, found himself on the free-agent market longer than many of his contemporaries. Other key first basemen, such as Christian Walker, signed a three-year, $60 million deal with Houston, while both Paul Goldschmidt (New York Yankees) and Carlos Santana (Cleveland) opted for one-year contracts.
Mets owner Steve Cohen previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the negotiations, highlighting that they had proved to be even more challenging than his dealings that resulted in a groundbreaking $765 million, 15-year contract for Juan Soto, who is also represented by agent Scott Boras. Cohen remarked on the imbalance in the proposed contract structures, indicating that they did not favor the Mets and expressing his ongoing intention to improve his roster.
In past negotiations, Alonso declined a seven-year, $158 million contract in 2023 that would have extended through 2030. After changing his representation to Boras following the 2023 season, he secured a one-year deal worth $20.5 million to avoid arbitration.
Throughout his six seasons with the Mets, Alonso has belted 226 home runs and made four All-Star appearances. However, his striking out increased sharply, culminating in a career-high 172 strikeouts last season, while his OPS fell to a career-low .788. Affectionately known as the “Polar Bear,” Alonso has become a beloved figure among Mets fans, having emerged from their farm system.
Alonso made history in 2019 by winning the NL Rookie of the Year, hitting .260 with an impressive 53 homers—the highest in the league that year—and driving in 120 runs. He achieved a personal best of 131 RBIs in 2022. This past season, he batted a career-low .217 while still hitting 46 homers and delivering 118 RBIs. Notably, he hit a pivotal three-run home run in the ninth inning against Devin Williams during the conclusion of the NL Wild Card Series, ensuring the Mets’ victory over Milwaukee.
Following their defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series, the Mets bolstered their lineup by adding Juan Soto and right-handed pitchers Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, and Griffin Canning, in addition to left-hander A.J. Minter. They also re-signed left-hander Sean Manaea, right-hander Ryne Stanek, and outfielder Jesse Winker.
