Mets still haven't talked extension with Pete Alonso this offseason

It was reported at the beginning of December that the Mets hadn't discussed an extension with pending free agent Pete Alonso this offseason.

The above still holds true, according to Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic, who reported on Tuesday that there have been no negotiations between the Mets and Alonso's camp.

Alonso, who is entering his age-29 season, is projected to make roughly $21 million in 2024 during what is his final year of arbitration.

If Alonso, who is repped by Scott Boras, makes it to free agency, it stands to reason that the Mets would still have a strong shot at retaining him.

After the 2022 season, the Mets re-signed both Brandon Nimmo (a Boras client) and Edwin Diaz after they reached free agency.

Nimmo, like Alonso, left his former agency to link up with Boras ahead of his walk year.

Speaking at the GM Meetings in November, president of baseball operations David Stearns said an extension with Alonso would eventually be discussed.

"We're going to have those conversations," Stearns said. "I'm generally of the mind that I try to keep those conversations out of the public dialogue."

Added Stearns:

"I'd like to have those conversations behind closed doors. I think they're most productive that way."

Speaking after Stearns at the GM Meetings, Boras said he had recently met with Stearns to discuss "philosophies and ideologies," and that he let Stearns know "when it comes to the Polar Bear, we are not in contract hibernation."

At the Winter Meetings in early December, Stearns reiterated his plan to have Alonso as the Opening Day first baseman in 2024, and Boras again said he's open to extension talks, noting that he's "all ears."

There was some trade buzz surrounding Alonso during the 2023 deadline as the Mets dealt Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and others -- and that trade buzz has not totally gone away this offseason.

While some of what Stearns has said as it pertains to Alonso and the 2024 roster can be chalked up to exec-speak -- no GM or president of baseball operations is going to completely telegraph his or her plan -- it stands to reason that Stearns would be kind of sidestepping the Alonso/trade question if he thought there was a serious chance of a trade happening this offseason. Of course, he hasn't been.