Port St. Lucie, Florida: New York Mets infielder Pete Alonso during a spring training workout, February 23, 2024 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
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The New York Mets entered the winter with a long to-do list of needed changes after a disappointing season ended without a playoff bid.
And on Tuesday, that list didn’t get any shorter.
Even though they signed free agent reliever Devin Williams, the Mets faced a clear need for another back-end bullpen addition after All-Star closer Edwin Diaz opted out of his contract. While the Mets were in talks to bring Diaz back, news surfaced that he was in agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers to join the reigning World Series champions instead.
Now the Mets are left to scour the market for a potential Diaz replacement. And they have another reunion to consider as well.
“While Edwin Diaz’s departure to the Los Angeles Dodgers — for three years, $69 million — has reshaped the team’s bullpen plans, it has also put the pressure on the front office to retain (Pete) Alonso, their homegrown star,” Manny Gomez wrote for NJ.com. “Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has shown this offseason that sentimentality won’t affect his plans; he started by trading fan-favorite outfielder Brandon Nimmo in late November.”
Without Diaz or Nimmo returning next year, the pressure has built on the Mets to reunite with Alonso, at least if they want to keep their long-time fans happy. And while Stearns might not be particularly sentimental, it seems like manager Carlos Mendoza is.
Shortly after news surfaced that Diaz had agreed to join the Dodgers, the manager was asked if he wants Alonso back. And he had a clear two-word response:
“Of course,” Mendoza said, during an appearance on MLB Network Radio.
“You’re looking at a guy that, as a manager, you don’t have to worry about who’s going to play first base and who’s going to be hitting in the middle of your lineup,” Mendoza added. “Of course we want him back and we’ve been, as an organization, pretty vocal about it. But also understanding that there’s a process and he earned that right, again, for a second year, where he’s looking out there and we’ll see what happens here.”
Mendoza was referring to Alonso’s prolonged free agency last winter, which ultimately saw him return to the Mets on a short-term deal, excel during the season and then opt out of that contract to test free agency again. Now he will be after a longer-term contract and it’s unclear if the Mets will be willing to invest one in him.
But with Diaz now heading to Los Angeles, perhaps the Mets feel like they need to come back to Queens with at least one of their long-time stars returning.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2025/12/09/mets-send-2-word-pete-alonso-message-after-losing-edwin-diaz/
