David Stearns doubles down on Pete Alonso being with Mets on Opening Day: ‘I don’t anticipate him getting traded’
New Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns reiterated Wednesday what he said at his introductory press conference in October in regards to impending free agent Pete Alonso: That he expects the slugging first baseman to be with the team on Opening Day.
“I still expect him to be our Opening Day first baseman,” Stearns told reporters from the GM Meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Wednesday.
Alonso will be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season and while both sides have expressed interest in a contract extension, those talks have yet to happen. Stearns, in an appearance on MLB Network, said that extension talks will happen this offseason.
Scott Boras, who is representing Alonso, told reporters Wednesday that the Mets categorized the first baseman as a “core player.” Stearns said he prefers to keep those conversations private -- Boras and the Mets met for about an hour -- but offered this about his slugger, “Pete’s a really good player. He’s been a good player and a high-producing player for the Mets for a long time now. We’re fortunate to have him. I’m looking forward to seeing him play this season and I’m not going to predict the future."
Stearns added, “I don’t anticipate him getting traded. I don’t draw lines in the sand and I’ll never say never but I think it’s fair to say I don’t anticipate him getting traded.”
Stearns did admit that teams have inquired about Alonso, saying “He’s a very good player who's got one year left on his contract, of course teams are going to ask about him.”
While Opening Day isn’t for another five months, Stearns is ready to try and get a deal done. But talks have begun and now it’s wait and see for Alonso and the Mets.
“I have talked to Pete. [Those talks have] been good,” Stearns said. “He’s really enthusiastic about being a Met and he wants us to win. That’s the consistent theme from all of our guys, is that they want to win. Whatever they can do to help us win, they are willing to do.”
