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In the end, it was an old-fashioned sit-down between the principles that helped finish the deal that brought Pete Alonso back to the Mets.
On Tuesday, team owner Steve Cohen flew to Tampa — where Alonso resides — and along with president of baseball operations David Stearns, met with Alonso and the first baseman’s representative, Scott Boras. For about three hours the group convened at Stovall House, a social club to which Alonso belongs.
A day later, Alonso agreed to a two-year contract worth $54 million for a return to the Mets. The deal includes an opt-out after the first season and $10 million signing bonus.
Alonso, according to sources, had not spoken directly with Cohen during his free agency prior to their meeting in Tampa. The sit-down served the purpose of Cohen and Stearns assuring to the slugger that he was still wanted, while providing their perspective.
Cohen and Stearns listened as Alonso outlined his frustrations of not receiving the type of offer from the Mets, given his productivity and what he meant to the organization, that he believed he deserved. Cohen told Alonso it wasn’t the first baseman’s fault.
Cohen made it clear to Alonso that the system was in large part responsible: as a player receiving a qualifying offer for this season, Alonso had draft pick compensation attached to him. Teams are generally reluctant to surrender a draft pick for a 30-year-old player, especially one on a bridge contract who might opt out early in the deal.
Alonso cannot receive another qualifying offer, leaving him unshackled to shoot for a larger payday as soon as next offseason should he decide to opt out. Also working against Alonso this winter was the fact he produced a career-low .788 OPS last season. Alonso’s 34 homers were also his lowest total for a full season.
Finally, Cohen — as a measure of respect for Alonso and in an attempt to finalize a deal — raised the offer in terms of AAV for the two-year deal. The $30 million that Alonso will receive this season is the highest in the game for a first baseman.
The Mets had initially offered $85 million over three years, but heavy deferrals in the deal that lowered the present-day value prevented Alonso from accepting. Later, the Mets offered about $71 million over three years — a deal that Alonso could have accepted over the one he chose.
The in-person meeting, for Mets brass, served the purpose of trying to ensure that Alonso would arrive at spring training with a healthy mindset, excited about returning to the team.
At the team’s fan fest almost two weeks ago, Cohen had called the negotiations between the two sides “exhausting” — even more so than the talks for Boras client Juan Soto, who in December signed with the Mets on a record 15-year contract worth $765 million.
Alonso, according to sources, expressed his excitement during his meeting with Cohen and Stearns about hitting in the same lineup with Soto.
There is a level of expectation that Soto will hit ahead of Alonso in the lineup (with the tandem either second and third or third and cleanup in the order).
