With just a few days left until the best MLB teams take the field to compete for the 2025 World Series title, fans are eagerly anticipating the season opener. In the case of the New York Mets, supporters are especially excited to see Juan Soto and Pete Alonso playing together for the first time.
Spring training has shown that the team is ready for the upcoming season, but manager Carlos Mendoza still faces some key lineup decisions. Despite the Mets’ high-profile additions, they may already be dealing with setbacks, as two players could miss the season opener.
As fans discuss the team’s outlook on social media and at family gatherings, new details about Alonso’s contract extension with the Mets have surfaced. However, this information didn’t come from reporters or insiders, it was one of Alonso’s key teammates who shed light on the deal.
According to outfielder Brandon Nimmo, he and several other players actively pushed the front office to secure Alonso’s return. “I was definitely keeping an eye on everything. I was checking in with Pete [Alonso], with David [Stearns], and with Steve [Cohen] to see where things stood,” Nimmo said on The Show podcast.
Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets is congratulated by Jeff McNeil #1 after catching a pop fly in foul territory to end the 1st inning during Game Six of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Nimmo added: “We wanted to let Pete know from our perspective that we wanted him back. In the end, I think that was the goal for everyone, finding a way to thread that needle and make it work for both sides.“
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Alonso opens up about meeting with Mets’ front office
It wasn’t just his teammate who shed light on negotiations between Alonso, Cohen, and Stearns. Alonso himself spoke with Foul Territory, offering insights into discussions that Nimmo couldn’t fully detail, as they came directly from his own conversations with the Mets’ front office.
“I guess previously, I never really got a look behind the curtain or necessarily a full understanding of the philosophies and the vision for the future,” Alonso said. “Because for me, when you go through and play for an organization, once you get called up, you are a player. You get little nuggets here and there, but you don’t necessarily get the full picture.”
For Alonso, gaining a clearer perspective on the franchise’s long-term vision played a crucial role in his decision-making process. The opportunity to understand the organization’s direction was particularly significant, given the Mets’ status as one of MLB’s most storied franchises.
What did Alonso and the Mets discuss?
During the meeting, Alonso shared his thoughts on the discussions surrounding his potential extension. He revealed that conversations with Cohen and Stearns weren’t just about the immediate future, but also about the organization’s long-term aspirations—specifically, how the Mets plan to build a championship-caliber team.
“Having that knowledge and understanding their philosophies, as well as the consistency from the staff to the players, I just wanted to be on the same page,” Alonso said. “Steve and I had built a rapport, and the vision they have for the future was super important to me.”
