Mets' Pete Alonso talks contract negotiations, expectations in 2025: 'This is a really special place'

Earlier this month, with an already-successful offseason nearing a close, the Mets capped it off by re-signing Pete Alonso to a two-year, $54 million contract to keep the first baseman in Queens. The deal came after tons of speculation and chatter that both parties would end up splitting and falling short of a negotiation.

It wasn't exactly the long-term contract that Alonso, 30, was hoping for at the beginning of the offseason. But with an opt-out after the first year, in which he'll make $30 million, it was good enough to satisfy both sides for a reunion that seemed inevitable the longer things went on.

After the Mets' first full-squad workout on Monday, Alonso spoke to reporters for the first time since the end of last season and discussed his side of the contract negotiations.

"I thought that it was really special when the deal got done," Alonso said. "It’s no secret that David [Stearns] and Steve [Cohen] came down and met with me. I respect that so much and I appreciate that, dealing with people face to face like that. It was good to kind of hear their perspective and obviously voice mine and here we are. We’re back at it again."

It's clear that Alonso wanted to remain a Met. After all, it's the only organization that he's ever been with -- he called it "a really special place." He spoke fondly of all the relationships he's built during his time in New York, and even credited some of his peers and teammates who kept in contact with him urging him to stay in New York.

"This is a really special place and what makes this a special place is the people here," Alonso said. "We’ve got a great clubhouse, obviously great talent. I’ve been here my entire career, so many relationships that I have fostered and created over the years and what we have gone through as an organization, and to be able to do some special things that we’ve done, not just last year but in years past. I just have a really special connection to this place, this city and it’s really exciting to be back."

Still, it's no secret that the negotiations between Alonso and the Mets became strenuous, exhausting even.

That's where the in-person meeting with Stearns and Cohen really pushed things over the finish line, as they were able to personally give their long-term plan to Alonso who, as a team-controlled player until this offseason, hadn't necessarily been given an in-depth presentation into what the organization had planned moving forward.

"For me, just being here I’ve just been a player," Alonso said. "I haven’t really had a peek behind the curtain or a concise, clear-cut vision of not just this year but years beyond... It’s just us making sense of everything so we could have a good plan going forward. I thought it was really productive."

Of course, to stay in orange and blue, Alonso accepted a short-term deal, effectively betting on himself again this season to potentially test the market next offseason.

"I couldn’t expect [a contract] incredibly mega-long because I didn’t have my best year and in ‘23 I didn’t really have my best year either, so the two years stacked up didn’t really play to my potential… It is what it is and I’m just gonna get back out there and play the best I can for the New York Mets."

While Alonso's last two seasons weren't up to his own personal standards and slightly down from his career numbers, he still hit 80 home runs during that time and continues to be New York's most prolific power threat in the lineup.

In fact, the 30-year-old is third all-time in home runs in franchise history with 226, trailing only David Wright (242) and Darryl Strawberry (252). He needs 27 more homers to set the franchise record.

"Of course, of course I’ve given it thought," Alonso said with a smile when asked if that potential accomplishment has crossed his mind. "I think to be able to have that is special and if that were to happen that’s something that I’ve been thinking about and to be a part of this franchise in that way, that’d be really special."

Alonso will soon hit alongside Juan Soto, who joins a Mets lineup that on paper, stacks up with the league's best. Alonso spoke about his new teammate that he's seen play quite a bit as a former NL East rival with the Nationals and crosstown foe with the Yankees last season.

"I’m stoked. We all know Juan is a phenomenal player and he definitely makes us better," Alonso said. "I’m just really thankful that he ended up with us because it seems like any time you play against Juan Soto, he has a big hit or takes someone [deep] or makes a game-changing play. So he’s definitely a stud and we’re so happy to have him."

So, after a busy offseason and an uncertain future, the Mets and Alonso reunited after their magical run in 2024 in hopes of running it back with a few new additions here and there.

What can they do for an encore?

"I think the most fulfilling part is just the story continuing," Alonso said. "For me, I’ve fostered so many great relationships and also because there’s some new people, I’m really looking forward to creating relationships with some of the new guys as well. I’m really stoked, it’s been a really good offseason. I feel prepared and excited. It feels like the stars are aligning and I can’t wait for camp and games to start, but Opening Day can’t come soon enough."