Pete Alonso Predicted to Bolt Mets on $240 Million Deal With Hated NL East Rival

After a lengthy free agent saga this offseason, 30-year-old Mets first baseman Pete Alonso signed a new contract with his original team, accepting a two year deal — albeit one that pays him $27 million per season.

But the contract was well short of what Alonso was projected to receive and what he was likely expecting. Many expert predictions put the value of his free agent contract as high as $200 million.

At the outset of last offseason, the Mets reportedly offered Alonso $158 million over seven years, but he turned it down.

The deal that Alonso ultimately took from the Mets, however, includes an opt-out clause after this season, meaning that he can test the free agent market once again this winter.

Would Alonso do it? He has already belted six home runs giving him 232 for his career. That leaves him just 21 short of breaking Darryl Strawberry's all-time Mets record of 252 homers. If Alonso continues to homer at his current pace this season, and he reaches his career average of 601 plate appearances, Alonso will break Strawberry's mark by at least two home runs.

That would allow Alonso to opt out and leave the Mets with a record that is likely to last for years, even decades. No current member of the Mets is anywhere close.

Juan Soto, for example, would need to average about 17.1 home runs every year for the duration of his 15-year contract in order to break the mark likely to be set by Alonso.

According to a report by Jon Conahan of Athlon Sports, the Philadelphia Phillies — the Mets closest divisional rival, at least this year — would be a likely destination. The Phillies' future Hall of Fame first baseman Bryce Harper has expressed a desire to return to the outfield, according to Conahan's report.

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If Philadelphia accommodates its superstar, it would have a vacancy at first — a perfect opening for Alonso.

But if he hits the free agent market again, Alonso will not come cheaply for the Phillies, or anybody.

According to New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman, Alonso will target an average annual salary of $35 million from the Mets, if he seeks an extension to his current contract.

With a $332 million payroll, second-highest in baseball, an $8 million annual raise for Alonso may be off-putting to the Mets — but gives a good indication of the minimum the Phillies would need to pay the slugger if they decide to pursue him as Harper's first base replacement.

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