PORT ST. LUCIE — Of all of the numbers Pete Alonso can carry to the Mets lineup, the one which resonated possibly the loudest to his supervisor final season was 162.
That’s, Alonso performed all 162 video games for the Mets within the common season, retaining a relentless presence in the midst of the lineup.
Alonso final week agreed to a two-year deal value $54 million for a return to the Mets, and though his deal has not but been introduced by the membership — Alonso was as a consequence of obtain a bodily on Tuesday — supervisor Carlos Mendoza admitted in his first information convention of spring coaching that he was comfortable to know who will probably be enjoying first base each day.
“You don’t have to fret about him — there may be quite a lot of days the place he isn’t feeling at his finest and he’s nonetheless going to publish,” Mendoza mentioned. “Final yr, there have been days after I didn’t really feel he was going to be a participant for us and he stored pushing it and ‘I’m enjoying,’ in order that’s what I really feel.”
If Alonso didn’t return, the Mets had been ready to maneuver Mark Vientos to first base, opening the chance that Brett Baty or Luisangel Acuña can be the starter at third.
Alonso final season delivered a career-low .788 OPS and was hindered in free company after the Mets prolonged him a qualifying provide.
It meant that any crew aside from the Mets that signed him must give up a draft choose.
Alonso’s new contract accommodates an opt-out after this season, permitting him to turn into a free agent once more subsequent winter (he can’t obtain one other qualifying provide).
Alonso’s deal materialized final week, after crew proprietor Steve Cohen flew to Tampa and met with the primary baseman for about three hours.
Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns made it clear to Alonso that he was nonetheless wished.
“The entire offseason was whether or not [Alonso] was going to come back again once more or not, and hopefully we will speak extra quickly right here, however we all know what he brings to the desk,” Mendoza mentioned.
“It is a man that performed each sport for us final yr. His character, how a lot he wished to be right here and attain the final word aim. He enjoys our metropolis and our fan base. He brings quite a bit and I’m excited.”