"I really care about everybody in the clubhouse" - When Pete Alonso lamented 2022 Mets team breakup after wild-card series loss to Padres
The future of four-time All-Star Pete Alonso remains one of the biggest storylines this offseason. Despite being one of the most prolific home run hitters in the entire league, the market for the first baseman may not have been what he expected as he is still unsigned as February approaches.
It remains to be seen where Alonso will land; however, he has been heavily linked to several clubs, including the LA Angels, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets. The hard-hitting first baseman has spent his entire MLB career with the Mets and while the negotiations have been a game of chicken, there has been mutual interest in a reunion.
Alonso's New York Mets teammates have been an important part of his growth into a superstar in the Majors and he cares about those he has played with. This is something that he spoke about during a 2022 interview following the team's NL wild-card loss to the San Diego Padres, sharing his sadness about the inevitable overhaul of the team's roster.
"To be honest, it hurts, it really hurts," Alonso said (0:02), via SNY. "It's not just the losing, it's kind of the disbanding of the group because every single guy in this clubhouse is really awesome and it just sucks that you know it's not going to be the same group next year."
Alonso's words rang true as the New York Mets lost several key players that offseason, leading to the team needing to reshape the roster. Chris Bassitt, Jacob deGrom, Seth Lugo, James McCann and Darin Ruf were a few of the notable names who did not return to the club for the 2023 campaign.
"You have free agency, trade possibilities, I mean that's just the nature of the industry but it's tough," Alonso said (0:25). "I really care for everybody in the clubhouse, we have such a great group, I mean it's obviously disappointing and frustrating that it ended this way but I mean, these guys are fantastic and it stinks."
Steve Cohen shared his frustrations with the ongoing negotiations with Pete Alonso and his representatives
Even though there has been mutual interest in having Pete Alonso return to New York for the 2025 season, Mets owner Steve Cohen shared his frustrations with the negotiations this past weekend during the team's fan fest. Cohen gave an honest response about Alonso and the free-agent talks.
"I don't like the negotiations. I don't like what's been presented to us," Cohen said on Saturday, via SNY.
Cohen remained brutally honest about the negotiations, saying that they were more difficult than with Juan Soto. While he did not elaborate further into the details, he said that he doesn't "like the structures" that are being presented to the team as part of a potential deal.