The New York Mets haven't played their best baseball over the past few months, a concerning sign for a team that had World Series aspirations entering the year.
Fortunately for the Mets, the Cincinnati Reds have also struggled, so they’re in a good spot to make the postseason.
As the Mets head into the winter, however, there are some tough decisions they have to make, mainly with slugger Pete Alonso. Alonso has been incredible once again this year for the Mets, now the team's all-time home run leader.
Is Pete Alonso Leaving the Mets?
However, after his last free agency blunder, some question whether Alonso will want to stay in New York or explore options elsewhere.
It's always sounded like he wants to stay in New York, but it's also fair to suggest that if he gets a better contract elsewhere, he may depart. Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report was the latest to predict that he’d do just that, citing last year's free agency situation.
“It was an uncomfortable first trip into free agency for Alonso, who seemed more interested in the Mets than they were in him. Ultimately, he returned on a two-year, $54 million deal that will allow him to opt out this offseason...
“Coming off of a better season than last year and with no qualifying offer attached to him this time, Alonso should make out better in free agency. But president of baseball operations David Stearns really didn't seem interested in giving a long-term deal to Alonso last offseason,” he wrote.
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Alonso will have to consider a bunch over the next couple of months, but it's also fair to suggest that if the Mets don't give him the money he's looking for, they should be questioned.
New York has to understand that it has to keep its best players around, so moving on from Alonso right now doesn't make much sense.