'I love this agency': Alonso reflects as free agency awaits

LOS ANGELES — As Mets players filtered out of the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium Sunday evening, riding a bus back to the team hotel, Pete Alonso sat at his locker and added his signature to a bat. At various intervals, teammates and members of the Mets traveling team filed in to offer their condolences, say goodbye.

In a clubhouse full of impending free agents, Alonso is by far the most notable. One of the longest-tenured Mets and franchise offensive core pieces, Alonso could be elsewhere by February. He understands that — even after the Mets' 10-5 loss to the Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, he offered only a cloudy view of the future.

“Honestly, I'm really — yeah, I'm right, I don't know,” Alonso said when asked about his emotions entering free agency. “At this point, I'm kind of shell-shocked that the season is over, because once you get on this postseason run, you don't think it's going to end.”

Alonso is one of the main reasons why the season lasts until Sunday. His go-ahead, three-run homer in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the Wild Card Series brought the Mets back from the dead, springboarding them into the NL Division Series and, ultimately, the NLCS. Alonso stayed hot the rest of the season, homering three more times and reaching base multiple times in each of his final three games.

But advancing to the World Series wasn't enough for the Mets. Instead, Alonso's last act as a Met — for now, at least — will be a charter flight back to Queens on Monday morning.

“Honestly, I didn't really think anything of it [beyond that],” he said. “I love this team. I love this organization. This fan base has treated not only me but my family very well. Right now, I'm just thinking about the group.

“We'll see what happens. We will cross that bridge when we get there. But I love New York. I love this team. I love playing in Queens. This group is truly special, and the memories we've made together are — wow. This is why we play baseball.”

Few players have been in the organization better than Alonso, the Mets' second-round draft pick in 2016. Never considered a blue-chip prospect in part because of his defensive limitations, Alonso forced his way onto the 2019 Opening Day roster and became. A star, he smashed a major league rookie-record 53 homers in his first season. In a clubhouse starved for leadership following David Wright's retirement, Alonso offered hope. He earned a notable nickname, “The Polar Bear”. Some have called him a future captain.

Five more productive seasons followed, as well as a pair of Home Run Derby wins he considers career highlights. In six seasons, Alonso belted 226 homers, which ranks third in franchise history behind only Darryl Strawberry (252) and Wright (242).

As a result of the Mets' decision to move Alonso to the Opening Day roster in 2019, he earned his sixth full year of major league service time this summer — enough for him to become a free agent. He will be one of many, along with JD Martinez, Jose Iglesias, Sean Manaaya (could opt out of his contract), Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and others.

“As a teammate, it's going to be tough, because they've earned themselves a lot of money … and who knows where they're going to end up?” shortstop Francisco Lindor said when asked specifically about Alonso and Mania.

Given Alonso's tenure, no impending Mets free agent has meant as much to the franchise. But that doesn't mean his longtime employer will aggressively pursue him. Alonso reportedly turned down a significant nine-figure contract before last year's trade deadline, and he will enter free agency coming off what was statistically his worst year as a big leaguer. He also set career lows in home runs (34) and OPS (.788) in a full-season. The Mets also have a potential in-house replacement in Mark Vientos, who set a franchise mark with 14 postseason RBIs, should Alonso be signed elsewhere.

Those are reasons to be pessimistic about the idea of ​​his return. Reasons for optimism include an October performance that won't soon be forgotten, as well as Steve Cohen's strong relationship with Alonso's agent, Scott Boras. Recently, the two spent time talking on the field even on Sunday afternoon.

No doubt, Cohen and Boras will speak again soon. What comes of those conversations could color Alonso's legacy in Flushing.

“Pete has done so much for this organization since the beginning,” said his longtime teammate Brandon Nimmo. “He means a lot to the fan base and this team. We would like to see him back here, but going through that process, I understand that this is a business. He will ultimately do what is best for him and his family. He's earned the right to get to this point—no question about it. But I think this October definitely topped it.”