ORLANDO, Fla. — League sources told The Athletic that the New York Mets did not extend a retention offer to Pete Alonso before he agreed to a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Dec. 10, 2025. The decision follows a string of high-profile departures from the Mets, coming one day after closer Edwin Díaz agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alonso, 31, finished the 2025 season with 38 home runs and a .871 OPS after signing a two-year, $54 million deal with an opt-out last offseason when his OPS was .788. Club officials say there is still time in the winter to reshape the roster, but Alonso’s exit marks a significant shift in the team’s core.
Key Takeaways
- The Mets did not present a formal offer to re-sign Pete Alonso before his five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles was announced on Dec. 10, 2025.
- Alonso, 31, posted 38 home runs and a .871 OPS in 2025, rebounding from a .788 OPS the previous season.
- The move follows Edwin Díaz’s agreement with the Dodgers one day earlier, signaling a rapid offseason turnover for the Mets’ veteran group.
- Mets president David Stearns has prioritized improving overall defense; Alonso’s defensive metrics in 2025 showed clear regression at first base.
- The Mets traded Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien last month and saw several long-tenured players (Nimmo, Drew Smith, Alonso, Díaz) leave the organization.
- Club sources say time remains in the offseason and the team is engaged in trade discussions and monitoring available free agents.
Background
Pete Alonso became the Mets’ all-time home run leader in his tenure with the club and was one of the organization’s most recognizable hitters. After a down year that produced a career-low .788 OPS, Alonso accepted a two-year, $54 million contract in February 2025 that included an opt-out after the first season. That agreement was described publicly as a short-term or “bridge” deal intended to allow Alonso to re-enter free agency if he returned to form.
Alonso delivered a strong offensive rebound in 2025, lifting his profile on the open market with improved exit velocities, a higher hard-hit rate, and better plate discipline metrics, culminating in 38 home runs and a .871 OPS. Despite the bounce-back at the plate, his defensive performance slipped; he struggled with throws and range at first base and registered well-below-average marks on defensive metrics. Mets leadership, led by president of baseball operations David Stearns, has identified defense as a targeted area of improvement entering the winter.
Main Event
On Dec. 10, 2025, Alonso agreed to a five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, a pact that immediately reshaped the Mets’ offseason calculus. League sources told The Athletic that the Mets had interest in retaining Alonso but stopped short of making the financial commitment or length the Orioles offered. That absence of a formal proposal meant the first base market cleared for Baltimore to sign Alonso without entering a matching negotiation with New York.
The Alonso signing adds significant power to the Orioles’ lineup and underscores how quickly New York’s long-term veteran presence has changed. A day earlier, star closer Edwin Díaz agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Mets had already completed the trade that sent outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien. Those moves removed four of the five longest-tenured players in the Mets’ system—Nimmo, Drew Smith, Alonso and Díaz—leaving Jeff McNeil as the remaining veteran figure identified as long-tenured entering the offseason.
Mets officials told reporters they remain active in trade discussions and are evaluating available free agents, but they acknowledged the challenge of replacing Alonso’s left-handed power. Internally, the team flagged the right side of the infield, including first base, as a defensive priority, a logical complement to Stearns’ stated emphasis on overall defensive upgrades. How aggressively New York pursues a defensive-first replacement at first base versus a bat-first option remains an open question.
Analysis & Implications
The Mets’ decision not to make an offer that matched the Orioles’ five-year proposal reflects a broader roster trade-off: balancing offensive production against defensive reliability and payroll structure. Alonso’s 2025 offensive resurgence made him one of the more valuable free agents, but his defensive decline at first base presented a counterweight for a club publicly pursuing better fielding. That tension likely informed New York’s calculus in deciding not to chase a long-term, high-cost deal.
From a payroll and roster-construction standpoint, New York is now positioned to redirect resources. Losing Alonso’s left-handed power creates a lineup hole behind Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, but it also frees meaningful salary commitments in a season when multiple high-cost pieces moved on. The club can target power through free agency, pursue trade options that emphasize defense, or prioritize complementary pieces to protect Lindor and Soto from opposing pitching strategies.
For the Orioles, adding Alonso is a clear power upgrade and signals continued aggressive roster building. For the Mets, the exit likely accelerates plans to reshape both the left side of the infield and the bullpen after Díaz’s departure. Market dynamics across the league will adjust as teams that eyed Alonso pivot to other targets, potentially driving competition for remaining big-name free agents and impacting trade valuations.
Comparison & Data
| Season | Home Runs | OPS |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | .788 |
| 2025 | 38 | .871 |
The two-season comparison highlights Alonso’s offensive rebound that elevated his market value. While 2024 was a down year by his standards, the 2025 improvements in power and underlying contact data made a multi-year contract plausible for clubs prioritizing run production. Defensive metrics, however, declined, and the Mets appear to have placed greater weight on that side of the ledger when deciding roster priorities.
Reactions & Quotes
“The Mets never extended a formal offer to Alonso,”
League sources cited by The Athletic
League sources provided that assessment to The Athletic, framing the Orioles’ agreement as occurring without a competing bid from New York. The reporting attributes the information to individuals familiar with negotiations rather than an official team announcement.
“Improving our overall defense is a major goal,”
David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations
Stearns has repeatedly emphasized defense as a priority in offseason planning. That stance helps explain recent moves such as the Marcus Semien acquisition and the club’s stated interest in strengthening the right side of the infield and first base defense.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the Mets engaged in informal talks with Alonso’s agents beyond exploratory conversations remains not publicly verified.
- Specific offers or counteroffers from the Mets, including any proposed dollar figures, have not been disclosed by club officials or agents.
- Reports of imminent trade targets for the Mets to replace Alonso are speculative; no confirmed incoming player has been announced.
Bottom Line
Pete Alonso’s move to Baltimore on a five-year, $155 million contract marks a clear turning point for the Mets’ winter. New York chose not to match the Orioles’ long-term bid, reflecting a roster philosophy that currently places greater emphasis on defensive upgrades and payroll flexibility than locking in Alonso’s power for five years.
The departure compounds other significant losses—most notably Edwin Díaz—and creates immediate lineup and clubhouse gaps. The Mets retain time and transactional levers to respond via free agency or trades, but replacing Alonso’s left-handed power and overall offensive value will be a priority for the front office in the weeks ahead.
Sources
- The New York Times / The Athletic — media report citing league sources and club statements.