The New York Mets haven’t yet given up on the 2023 season and apparently won’t make slugger Pete Alonso available before the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY reported Monday afternoon that the Mets “do not plan to engage other clubs” regarding Alonso’s services this summer.
“If they don’t feel like they are going to sign him, the offseason is a better time to talk about trades, because more teams would be involved,” a source told Martino about the Mets’ view of Alonso coming off the All-Star break.
Martino said that the Mets have “not yet talked specific players with other clubs” even though they are responsible for baseball’s most expensive and most underachieving squad this season. The Mets entered Monday afternoon at 43-50 and 18.5 games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East standings. New York was also eight-and-a-half games back in the hunt for a wild-card berth at that time.
As for Alonso, he remains eligible for free agency after the 2024 season and repeatedly has been noncommittal about signing a long-term deal with the Mets this year. The 28-year-old recently earned the third All-Star selection of his career, landing fifth in all of MLB with 26 home runs and 13th with 61 RBI on the campaign. He’s slashing .207/.306/.484.
For a piece published Sunday night, Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted the Mets could look to sell veteran pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander before the Aug. 1 deadline even though their contract situations complicate potential deals. Martino said Monday that New York could also make closer David Robertson, catcher Omar Narvaez, outfielder Tommy Pham and fellow outfielder Mark Canha available.
“One league source expected trade conversations to become more intense and specific one week from today, barring a major Mets winning streak,” Martino added.
Even if the Mets fail to deliver such a winning streak, it sounds like they’re happy to hold onto Alonso through at least the start of the upcoming offseason knowing that the fan-favorite is a popular choice to one day serve as a team captain.
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