Pete Alonso is a New York Mets fan favorite.
But USA Today's Bob Nightengale writes that it might not be wise to stay too attached to Alonso.
In a new article Monday, Nightengale predicted that Alonso would wind up with the Boston Red Sox.
"David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations, was ready to let Alonso walk last year," Nightengale writes. "Alonso had a monster year but they still missed the playoffs, making it easier to walk away now. They are preaching defense or in the words of Stearns, 'run prevention,' and are expected to let him depart unless he signs a deal they can’t turn down. GMs are predicting the perfect landing spot for Alonso may be the Red Sox."
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First base isn't the most important defensive position, but Alonso also isn't very good even just among first basemen in the defensive metrics.
If he leaves, the Mets would potentially have to go elsewhere in free agency for a replacement.
The Red Sox have Triston Casas coming off a serious knee injury, and it's not clear whether he'd be ready to play first base on opening day.
Boston did clear its DH spot midway through last season by trading Rafael Devers to the Giants.
That opening could come in handy if an Alonso contract comes down the pipeline.
The Mets missed the playoffs this past season after a late collapse, even with Alonso having a great season.
It's always tough to move on from a franchise cornerstone. But maybe this is the right time to let Alonso look for greener pastures while the Mets try to lean into a new identity.
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