New York Mets

Given their need for a first baseman going into the 2025 season with Pete Alonso still available as a free agent, the New York Mets checked in with the Toronto Blue Jays about a potential Vladimir Guerrero Jr. trade.

Per SNY's Andy Martino, the Mets conversation with the Blue Jays was described as "checking in" on Guerrero's availability.

The Mets have already had a memorable offseason by signing Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract.

Adding Guerrero to the mix would only increase the positive vibes in Queens going into the 2025 season, but there's no indication the Blue Jays are shopping the four-time All-Star at this point.

There will continue to be questions about Guerrero's short-term future until there's a resolution to his contract situation with Toronto. He avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $28.5 million deal in 2025.

Guerrero is entering his final year of team control before becoming a free agent next offseason. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported in December that Guerrero and the Blue Jays were in discussions about a long-term contract.

The one-year deal to avoid arbitration doesn't prevent Guerrero or the Blue Jays from continuing contract talks. Rosenthal's report noted the perception within MLB is the Blue Jays "are desperate to do something big."

Toronto did make strong bids for Soto and Shohei Ohtani in each of the past two offseasons. The Blue Jays are reportedly one of three finalists for Rōki Sasaki, along with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

If the Blue Jays have another down year in 2025 after finishing 74-88 last season, they could look to move Guerrero prior to the trade deadline if the two sides don't agree to a long-term extension between now and this summer.

Guerrero finished sixth in AL MVP voting last season after hitting .323/.396/.544 with 30 homers and 103 RBI in 159 games.

Martino's report noted the Mets are "holding the line" on their offer to Alonso, which includes an opt-out after the first season. It's unknown how much money they are offering him.

As things currently stand, the Mets will go into this season with Mark Vientos playing first base and Brett Baty at third base. A reunion with Alonso or acquiring Guerrero would keep Vientos at third base.

Pete Alonso appears to be willing to bend the knee a little bit in order to stay with the New York Mets.

Jim Duquette of SiriusXM reported that the first baseman's camp offered the Mets a three year deal with opt-outs that was only available to New York. Will Sammon of The Athletic confirmed the rumor.

"League sources confirmed a report from SiriusXM analyst Jim Duquette, a former New York Mets general manager, saying Alonso's camp offered the Mets a three-year deal with opt-outs. Duquette reported the offer was only available to the Mets," Sammon wrote. "The former exec added that Alonso's agent Scott Boras declined to comment."

Alonso is a four-time All-Star and has been a major piece of the Mets lineup for several seasons. He hit .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs and 88 RBIs in 2024 and helped lead the Mets to the NLCS.

The Mets made the biggest splash of the offseason, signing outfielder Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million deal to be the new franchise face. While the core should center around Soto and shortstop Francisco Lindor, Alonso could remain a stable right-handed power bat and first baseman for a Mets team hoping to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers for supremacy in the National League.

Alonso had already turned down a three-year, $90 million deal from the Mets earlier in the offseason. The San Francisco Giants have also been linked to Alonso and could lure him away from New York.

Duquette and Sammon's report seems to indicate that Alonso would desire a larger deal from San Francisco and that the Mets may have the ball in their corner for retaining Alonso's services.

The New York Mets and free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso reportedly remain far apart in contract negotiations.

According to SNY's Andy Martino, the two sides are "not close" to striking a deal to keep Alonso part of the only MLB organization he has ever played for.

Martino's report came on the heels of former Mets general manager and current MLB Network Radio analyst Jim Duquette reporting on talks between Alonso and the Mets.

Per Duquette, Alonso and his representation have made the Mets an exclusive three-year offer that includes opt-outs, but there is "no deal known to be close."

Along with longtime Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, Alonso is perhaps the most high-profile player still available in free agency.

The 30-year-old Alonso is a six-year MLB veteran who has been named an All-Star four times, including last season when he slashed .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs, 88 RBI and 91 runs scored.

Alonso burst onto the scene in 2019, setting the rookie record for home runs in a season with 53 en route to being named National League Rookie of the Year.

While Alonso has never come particularly close to touching the 50-homer mark again, he has two additional 40-home-run seasons to his credit, and he has clubbed 34 or more longballs in each of the past four seasons.

Alonso has also reached the 100-RBI mark on three occasions, including a career-high 131 in 2022.

The power has still been there for Alonso in recent seasons, but after hitting .261 with a .349 on-base percentage over his first two seasons, he has struggled a bit in terms of getting on base consistently the past two years, hitting just .229 with a .324 OBP.

Still, there is a lot to like about Alonso's game, with one of the most notable assets being his durability. He played in all 162 regular-season games in 2024, and he has never missed more than 10 games in a season.

Additionally, Alonso has a penchant for coming through on the big stage, as he owns a career playoff slash line of .278/.429/.574 with five home runs and 11 RBI in 16 contests.

Most of that came during New York's run to the National League Championship Series last season, as Alonso finished with four homers and 10 RBI in 13 games.

The Mets have made one massive addition to their lineup this offseason in the form of outfielder Juan Soto, who they lured away from the New York Yankees with an MLB-record contract of $765 million over 15 years.

Soto and shortstop Francisco Lindor give the Mets two MVP-caliber hitters at the top of their lineup, and while they are followed by a couple of more capable hitters in Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo, there is a clear hole in the middle of the lineup.

The Mets clearly need another run producer with power who can make opposing pitchers pay if they put Lindor and Soto on base, and Alonso undoubtedly fits that description.

Alonso is the last big-name first baseman left on the market after the signings of Christian Walker, Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana, meaning the options are limited for the Mets and perhaps for Alonso as well.

The fit makes sense for both sides, but the Mets may be cautious about handing out another huge deal after already signing Soto to the richest contract in MLB history.

The New York Mets could show interest in free-agent right fielder Anthony Santander if the team can't re-sign Pete Alonso, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

"If Pete Alonso does not go back to Flushing, Queens, and if Santander is still unsigned if and when Alonso goes somewhere else, Santander becomes a viable option for the Mets," Morosi said on Thursday (0:38 mark).

How interested are the Mets in free agent Anthony Santander?@jonmorosi | #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/fJkyWezdQo

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 9, 2025

Morosi noted that the Mets currently aren't considered "the frontrunners" for the 30-year-old, though.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Dec. 26 that there was a "sizable gap" in negotiations between Alonso and New York's front office at the time.

On Tuesday, USA Today's Bob Nightengale revealed that the first baseman returning to the Mets on a short-term deal appeared to be a "likely outcome."

While Alonso posted a career-low .788 OPS in 2024, he still hit 34 home runs and has launched 226 homers since his rookie season in 2019.

Santander is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he earned the first All-Star nod of his career. In 155 games with the Baltimore Orioles, the switch-hitter racked up 44 home runs and 102 RBIs to go along with a .235/.308/.506 slash line.

Tony Taters #Walkoff!

The @Orioles win it on Anthony Santander's 42nd home run of the season! pic.twitter.com/DhmIZXT8TF

— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024

He should have several options in free agency, as Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported that the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays have all expressed interest in him.

If the Mets can't agree to terms with Alonso, they'll likely enter the fray.

While many of the biggest free agents of this MLB offseason have already found their next homes, there are still talented options available.

With that as the backdrop, Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported Tuesday that the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays were all interested in outfielder Alex Verdugo. Cotillo called the Pirates "a team to watch" in his pursuit.

Verdugo has provef versatile enough to play all three outfield spots throughout his career, although he was primarily a left fielder for the New York Yankees last season.

He also impressed in that role and posted eight defensive runs saved above average in left in 2024, per FanGraphs. That effort came after he tallied nine defensive runs saved above average as a right fielder in 2023 for the Boston Red Sox.

While Verdugo has a solid glove, he can also add some power to whichever team he joins.

He slashed .233/.291/.356 with 13 home runs and 61 RBI in 149 games for the Yankees. It was his fourth straight season with double-digit home run totals and fifth straight if ignoring the 2020 campaign that was shortened by COVID-19.

The batting average was a trend in the wrong direction, though, as he hit .260 or better every year of his career until last season. That stretch includes when he hit .308 in 53 games in 2020.

Ultimately, Verdugo should still have years left of peak production at 28 years old and is accustomed to playing under the bright lights after previous stops with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees.

He adds power to the offense and can play across the outfield for a manager looking to mix and match his lineups. He won't drastically raise the ceiling for an organization, but he would be a noteworthy addition.

Returning to the New York Mets appears to be a "likely outcome" for free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, albeit on a deal "shorter" than he covets, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

"For Alonso, a return to the New York Mets seems to be the likely outcome, but on a deal shorter than Alonso desires. The Mets, after already committing $918.1 million this winter, including a stunning $765 million for Soto, are holding their ground on Alonso. While they'd like a reunion with the four-time All-Star who has hit 226 home runs, they simply aren't willing to give him a long-term deal for at least $200 million, not after his career-worst .788 OPS last season. Then again, no one else is either. Teams are reluctant to eclipse Freddie Freeman's six-year, $162 million contract and Matt Olson's eight-year, $168 million deal while Alonso's agent, Scott Boras, uses Prince Fielder's nine-year, $214 million contract with Detroit Tigers in 2012 as a comparison."

The 30-year-old Alonso, a four-time All-Star, hit .240 (.788 OPS) with 34 home runs and 88 RBI last season. He excelled in the team's run to the NLCS, smacking four home runs, including a clutch game-and-series winner against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Wild Card Series. Alonso also added 10 RBI and a .999 OPS.

Alonso's production has notably gone down year-by-year since 2022, when he had an .869 OPS (4.4 WAR). Since then, he's posted an .821 OPS (3.2 WAR) in 2023 and a .788 OPS (2.6 WAR) in 2024. Alonso has also hit just .229 over the past two seasons.

However, he's a tremendous power threat, and his playoff performance can't be overlooked either. Alonso's ultimately been a great asset in Queens, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him back.

Nightengale added more context on the matter, also citing the current free agency of ex-Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.

"The Mets could be the most intriguing team in the Bregman/Alonso sweepstakes," Nightengale wrote. "Several executives believe that if the Mets don't sign Bregman and move third baseman Mark Vientos to first base, they'll sign Alonso. And if they don't sign Alonso, they'll shift to Bregman."

Nightengale mentioned a host of other suitors for Bregman, though, in the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. So it's certainly not a guarantee the Mets land him.

Back to Alonso, though, it's been previously reported by Jon Morosi on MLB Network that the Mets have the most interest in him.

"I do not see a team right now that has more interest in [Pete] Alonso than his original employer, the New York Mets."

- @jonmorosi on #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/HsmRlKrPP7

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 3, 2025

With Nightengale's report in the mix, it appears the Mets remain the frontrunners for their old first baseman as the team looks to build off a tremendous playoff run.

The New York Mets have met with free agent relief pitcher Tanner Scott amid their search for bullpen help, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon.

Scott is considered one of MLB's top unsigned relievers after recording a career-high 22 saves during a 2024 campaign split between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres.

ESPN's Jeff Passan recently reported that Scott is expected to command "a four-year deal for $15 million or more a year" in free agency.

That contract would be outlier for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who has not offered a bullpen player multiple guaranteed seasons since joining the franchise in October 2023, as noted by Sammon.

The Mets still want to add "one or two relievers" this offseason, per Sammon.

According to Sammon, "the expectation is for the team to check out all segments of the relief market, including trades."

Jeff Hoffman remains on the market, but has received interest from teams as a starter, per Passan.

If the Mets decide to pursue Scott, they won't be the only team interested. He has been connected to the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox by The Athletic's David O'Brien and MassLive's Chris Cotillo, with Cotillo describing the market for him as "crowded."

It’s a crowded market for Tanner Scott, who is going to set the slow-moving relief market when he does sign. The Red Sox have poked around on the high-end relievers and have cash to burn. @Sean_McAdam has heard a $20M AAV is in play. I’ve heard likely multiple big-market bidders.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 6, 2025

Mets starters ranked 12th in MLB with a 3.91 ERA last season, while the bullpen finished the campaign at No. 17 with a 4.03 ERA and 39 saves.

Scott, who earned his first career All-Star nod after posting a 1.75 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 72.0 innings pitched last season, could help the Mets improve those numbers.

He finished the season with one of the lowest average exit velocities in the MLB at 84.3 miles per hour, and struck out Shohei Ohtani multiple times during the Padres' division series against the Dodgers.

Stearns and the Mets got a good look at him during the campaign as he recorded three saves in five outings against New York. Scott allowed just one hit and two runs while striking out 10 in 6.2 innings against the Mets.

The Mets have spent a busy offseason shoring up their batting lineup with the addition of Juan Soto, while adding converted reliever Clay Holmes and re-signing Sean Manaea to join Kodai Senga in the rotation.

The bullpen has meanwhile remained relatively unchanged. Edwin Díaz returned from 2023 knee surgery to prove himself a reliable closer last season, but the Mets could use another go-to option to close out games.

Adding both Scott and Díaz, who agreed to a five-year, $102 million deal with the team in 2022, would make for an expensive bullpen. The Mets may be willing to consider the cost if they believe a stronger bullpen is key to contending next fall.

David Wright will become the 11th player to have his number retired by the New York Mets.

The Mets announced Wright will be inducted into their Hall of Fame and have his No. 5 retired by the club during a ceremony on July 19 when they host the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field.

Wright issued a statement about having his jersey retired by the club after it was announced.

The Mets announced the team will retire David Wright’s No. 5 and he will enter the Mets Hall of Fame in a pre-game ceremony on July 19 prior to the 4:10 p.m. game against the Cincinnati Reds. pic.twitter.com/N4KsphJuge

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) January 6, 2025

Wright spent his entire career with the Mets starting with being drafted No. 38 overall in 2001 MLB draft. He made his big-league debut at the age of 21 on July 21, 2004.

There was a period of nine seasons from 2005 to '13 when Wright was arguably the best player in Major League Baseball. He hit .302/.384/.505, averaged 23 homers per season and ranked fourth among all players in FanGraphs' wins above replacement during that span.

Wright made the All-Star team seven times, finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting four times and won two Gold Glove awards during his career. He had 24 at-bats for the Mets during the 2015 World Series against the Kansas City Royals.

Injury woes took a toll on Wright in the final years of his career. He played 134 games during the 2014 season, but only appeared in 77 games over the next four years combined before retiring after the 2018 season.

Wright is the Mets' all-time leader in hits (1,777), total bases (2,945), doubles (390), RBI (970), extra-base hits (658) and walks (762). His 242 homers are second in franchise history, behind only Daryl Strawberry (252).

Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Willie Mays, Keith Hernandez, Jerry Koosman, Mike Piazza, Tom Seaver, Gil Hodges and Casey Stengel are all Mets legends who have had their jersey retired by the franchise. No. 42 is also retired across MLB in honor of Jackie Robinson.

Pete Alonso could be the San Francisco Giants long-term answer at first base.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Giants "remain in the market" for a first baseman or designated hitter and that Alonso is "on their radar."

This comes after pitcher Corbin Burnes, who San Francisco was considered a major contender for, signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.

Alonso hit .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs and 88 RBIs in 162 games in 2024. He helped the New York Mets go 89-73 and reach the NLCS.

He has received interest from the Mets, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. He reportedly turned down a three-year, $90 million deal from the Mets.

If the Giants pursue him, he could help a Giants team that went 80-82 and missed the postseason for the third consecutive season. He could fit into the lineup as a power option with third baseman Matt Chapman and help San Francisco navigate a loaded NL West division.

The New York Mets and free-agent slugger Pete Alonso are reportedly far apart in negotiations regarding a return to the team.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, there is a "sizable gap" in talks between the Mets and Alonso "at the moment."

Heyman noted that it "doesn't mean he's gone," but "no quick deal appears at hand."

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns previously said that the team would "love" to bring Alonso back in free agency.

Despite free-agent activity across the majors to begin the offseason, Alonso still hasn't been signed. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported on Dec. 19 that teams are "hesitant to give him a long-term deal."

Since making his MLB debut with the Mets in 2019, Alonso has established himself as one of the best power hitters in the sport. He's exceeded 30 home runs in each of the past four years and has also remained relatively healthy, missing just 20 total regular-season games over that span.

Pete Alonso has RAKED since joining the league in 2019:
226 HR (2nd in MLB)
586 RBI (1st)

Where does the Polar Bear call home next season? pic.twitter.com/SJB0B18Wlo

— MLB (@MLB) December 15, 2024

Concerns may lie with his age, as New York could be hesitant to hand Alonso a long-term deal after he just turned 30 years old on Dec. 7. His OPS has also declined in three consecutive years, including a career-low .788 mark in 2024.

Alonso's postseason performance could provide some optimism that he'd be able to live up to a new contract, as he hit four home runs and 10 RBIs in 13 games to go along with a .273/.431/.568 slash line.

PETE ALONSO!!!!!!!!!!!!! #POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/LzgpxTWUzN

— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2024

The Mets have already experienced an eventful offseason, handing star outfielder Juan Soto a massive 15-year deal that could exceed $800 million. New York also reached an agreement to bring back left-handed starter Sean Manaea on a new three-year, $75 million contract.

A reunion between Alonso and the Mets doesn't appear to be out of the question, but there are still multiple hurdles to clear before a resolution is reached.