By Adeniyi Precious 
A big report has surfaced about Pete Alonso’s future with the New York Mets. According to SNY’s Andy Martino, the Mets don’t expect Alonso to return next season. The two sides haven’t made much headway in contract talks, with no agreement on salary or contract length. The Mets re-signing Jesse Winker is seen as a sign they’re preparing for life without Alonso.
Alonso, who was drafted by the Mets in 2016 and debuted in 2019, had an explosive rookie year with 53 home runs, winning NL Rookie of the Year. Over his career, he’s been an All-Star four times and has a career .249 batting average with an .854 OPS. Last year, he played every game of the regular season.
Both Alonso and the Mets had expressed interest in keeping the relationship going. Mets owner Steve Cohen said in December they hoped to keep him, but also acknowledged that Alonso was free to explore the market.
It seems, though, that the Mets are not optimistic about reaching a deal, especially after spending big on Juan Soto. Alonso, who made $20.5 million last year, is now a free agent for the first time and looking to secure a big payday. If he doesn’t return, the Mets may look to Mark Vientos to take over at first base.