LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pete Alonso seemed distraught that this season and perhaps his time with the New York Mets were over.
“I was kind of bummed that the season was over, because once you start that postseason run, you don’t really think it’s ever going to be over because we’ve overcome a lot and we’re doing really well in the major leagues,” Alonso said after the Mets were eliminated Sunday night with a 10-game loss. -5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series.
Alonso hit .273 with four homers and 10 RBIs in the postseason. After making $20.5 million this year, the first baseman is eligible for free agency for the first time and will turn 30 in December.
“I love this team. I love this organization. This fan base has treated not only me, but my family very well,” Alonso said. “I love New York. I love this team. I love playing in Queens. This group is truly special and the memories we have created together are so amazing. That’s why we play baseball, to be able to have that teamwork, to be able to go far, face adversity and overcome it. …I want more and more moments like this.
New York started the season 0-5 and was 22-33 before the only players’ meeting in late May that followed the Dodgers’ series sweep at Citi Field. The Mets turned their season around and finished 89-73, clinching last place in the NL by beating Atlanta the day after the regular season ended. They rallied in the ninth inning of Game 3 to win the NL Wild Card Series, then upset NL East champion Philadelphia in the Division Series to reach the LCS for the first time since 2015.
“It’s not easy to overcome a lot of adversity, but we continued to find ways to get the job done,” first-year manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Unfortunately, that has not been the case in this series. Now we are going home. But, as I said, that has to be our expectations going forward every year, and we have to play games in October.”
In the fourth season after Steve Cohen purchased the Mets from the Wilpons, New York led the major leagues with $332 million in salary and is set to pay a $96 million luxury tax.
Pitchers Jose Quintana and Luis Severino could also become free agents and Sean Mania has a player option he can decline to become a free agent.
“It was an amazing rollercoaster,” Francisco Lindor said. “We’ve accomplished a lot as a team, as individuals. We’ve become a family. We’ve overcome a lot of things and stuck together, so I really think there’s something good happening here. It’s not good to lose. I’ll be here with me for a while but I feel like this year has made me a better person and a better player.” And I’ve grown so much.
Lindor is signed through 2031 and outfielder Brandon Nimmo through 2030.
Nemo hopes that Alonso will reach a new agreement with the Mets.
“He means a lot to the fan base and to this team, and we would love to see him back here,” Nemo said. “But through this process, I also understand that this is a business and he will end up doing what is best for us.” Him and his family.”
Nimmo said stability heading into Year 2 under President of Baseball Operations David Stearns and Mendoza will be an advantage over last season.
“I really think this is kind of the starting point. We want to set this as the standard now,” Nimmo said. “There are no people who are surprised. I think people will be more wary of us next year to start things off, and that comes with its own territory, where everyone will have their A-game to try to beat you.
J.D. Martinez, another potential free agent, is eyeing a core return. When asked what the future is for him, the 37-year-old answered with one word: “Pickleball.”
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