The Mets have not added a first baseman to replace Pete Alonso yet, but have begun the process of moving on without him.
An agreement to retain Jesse Winker for one year at $7.5 million Thursday began a Mets pivot away from Alonso and the internal belief is that he will now sign elsewhere.
The Mets had informed Alonso’s camp in recent days that time was short to make an agreement because the organization did not want to miss out on other opportunities waiting for the slugger to decide if he would accept the team’s offer, which is believed to be for no more than three years and for less than the $90 million-ish reported recently.
Winker gives the Mets a bat to help protect them should the Alonso divorce indeed goes through.
The Mets also are intending to be significant players in the still robust free-agent relief market, of which lefty Tanner Scott is the best remaining asset.
It always is possible that if the Mets never do more for first base than intend to move Mark Vientos there and play an inexperienced player – Luisangel Acuna, Brett Baty and/or Ronny Mauricio – at third, that Steve Cohen could always open his wallet to keep Alonso.
But, for now, the Mets were moving forward as if one of the best power hitters in their history is going to play elsewhere in 2025.
