Pete Alonso reflects on the Mets’ season and talks free agency

LOS ANGELES — As Mets players left the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium late Sunday night and boarded a bus back to the team hotel, Pete Alonso sat at his locker signing a bat. At various intervals, teammates and members of the Mets’ traveling party stopped by to offer their condolences and say goodbye.

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

“Honestly, I really — yeah, I just don’t know,” Alonso said when asked about his feelings entering free agency. “Right now I’m just a little shocked that the season is over because once you get into the postseason you kind of don’t believe it’s going to end.”

Alonso is one of the biggest reasons why the season lasted until Sunday. His go-ahead three-run home run in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the Wild Card Series brought the Mets back from the dead and led them to the NL Division Series and ultimately the NLCS. Alonso remained hot for the remainder of the postseason, hitting three more home runs in each of his final three games and reaching base multiple times.

However, it wasn’t enough for the Mets to get into the World Series. Instead, Alonso’s final appearance as a Met — at least for now — will be a charter flight back to Queens on Monday morning.

“Honestly, I didn’t really think about anything [beyond that]” he said. “I love this team. I love this organization. This fan base has treated not only myself but my family so, so well. At the moment I’m just thinking about the group.

“We’ll see what happens. We’ll 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 have created together are just – wow. That’s why we play baseball.”

Few players have been in the organization longer than Alonso, the Mets’ second-round draft pick in 2016. Although Alonso was never considered a blue-chip candidate, in part because of his defensive limitations, he still forced his way in made the 2019 Opening Day roster and became a star, breaking a major league rookie record of 53 home runs in his first season. In a clubhouse lacking leadership following the resignation of David Wright, Alonso offered hope. He received a notable nickname: “Polar Bear.” Some heralded him as a future captain.

Five more productive seasons followed, as well as two Home Run Derby victories, which he considers career highlights. In six seasons, Alonso hit 226 home runs, ranking third in franchise history behind only Darryl Strawberry (252) and Wright (242).

However, the Mets’ decision to add Alonso to the Opening Day roster in 2019 resulted in him playing his sixth full year in the major leagues this summer – enough to become a free agent. He will be one of many, alongside JD Martinez, Jose Iglesias, Sean Manaea (can opt out of his contract), Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and others.

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

Given Alonso’s tenure, no impending Mets free agent has meant as much to the franchise. But that doesn’t mean his long-time employer will pursue him aggressively. Alonso reportedly turned down a significant nine-figure deal before last year’s trade deadline and will enter free agency after his worst year statistically as a big league player. He reached season-long career lows in home runs (34) and OPS (.788). The Mets also have a potential in-house replacement in Mark Vientos, who just set a franchise mark with 14 postseason RBIs, should Alonso sign elsewhere.

These are reasons to be pessimistic about the idea of ​​his return. Reasons for optimism include an October appearance that won’t soon be forgotten, as well as Steve Cohen’s close relationship with Alonso’s agent Scott Boras. The two were still chatting on the field on Sunday afternoon.

No doubt Cohen and Boras will speak again soon. What emerges from these conversations could influence Alonso’s legacy in Flushing.

“Pete has done so much for this organization since the beginning,” said one of his longtime teammates, Brandon Nimmo. “He means a lot to the fan base and this team. We’d like to see him back here, but even going through this process, I understand it’s a business. In the end, he will do what is best for himself and his family. He’s earned the right to get to this point – there’s no doubt about that. But I think this October definitely rounded it all out.”