New York Mets owner Steve Cohen shared over the weekend that it might be difficult to fit free agent Pete Alonso into the payroll as the club continues “to bring in players.”
So, beyond revealing an exhaustion from negotiating with Alonso’s camp, Cohen’s comments confirmed a couple of other matters. One, in a world without Alonso returning to Flushing, the Mets may add more pieces. Two, the Mets are at least acting like they care about how much they spend.
If Alonso ends up elsewhere, league sources expect the Mets to look for bullpen help and potentially add someone who can provide depth in the infield.
In the big picture, Cohen’s words reflected a stance that The Athletic reported in December would likely be the Mets’ approach to the rest of the offseason. On Dec. 16, I wrote that after going wild for Juan Soto, the Mets would take a more measured approach. Specifically regarding Alonso, that likely meant a preference for a short-term deal. Additionally, the front office’s discipline manifested itself in Sean Manaea’s deal, which ended up being a three-year contract containing deferrals.
Steve Cohen has expressed reservations about spending massive amounts on the luxury tax. (Brett Davis / Imagn Images)
The Mets are again projected to boast one of baseball’s highest payrolls. FanGraphs estimates it at $297 million. Last year, the Mets paid nearly $100 million in luxury tax. But Cohen has indicated that he does not want to keep paying such a high bill.
So while the Mets will undoubtedly run another expensive operation in 2025, it wasn’t all that surprising to hear Cohen talk about “fitting” a player like Alonso into the payroll. After all, Cohen waited years to hire David Stearns as president of baseball operations. Since Stearns’ hiring, the Mets have taken a more refined approach to free agency. They’ve gone all-in on pursuits involving stars in their mid-20s (Soto, Yoshinobu Yamamoto). But they’ve otherwise limited their trips to the most expensive aisles.
The Mets could use more help. They have a hole at first base. That’s why a reunion with Alonso still makes sense.
Their projected lineup looks something like this: Francisco Lindor (SS), Mark Vientos (1B), Juan Soto (RF), Brandon Nimmo (LF), Jesse Winker (DH), Francisco Alvarez (C), Jeff McNeil (2B), Jose Siri (CF), Brett Baty (3B).
As constructed, the lineup might be fine. But one more accomplished slugger would make a difference. As one longtime rival scout said, “It needs Pete for some real bite.”
Without Alonso, the Mets stand to get a strong feel for what they have in young players such as Baty, Luisangel Acuña and Ronny Mauricio. Starting the spring with a chance to give some of their young players a significant runway should offer the Mets clarity. If they’re not enthused by what they see in spring training, they can look to make a move. Citing a willingness from the front office to make midseason changes in the past, rival evaluators suggested the Mets will be active throughout the season.
Brandon Nimmo (plantar fasciitis) expects to be ready for Opening Day.
“It’s responding well,” Nimmo said Saturday at the Mets’ Amazin Day at Citi Field. “I’m having good workouts. I’m hitting on it. And I’m not having any issues. Now it’s just adding in the running.”
Immediately after the season, Nimmo received an injection and began physical therapy. He recently progressed to jogging. The next step would be trying to sprint.
Nimmo typically works on a later spring training schedule and is absent from the first few games. He said he anticipates a similar setup and is prioritizing Opening Day.
Here are some other injury-related updates with two weeks left before the Mets begin reporting to Port St. Lucie:
- A.J. Minter said his goal is to be ready close to Opening Day. Minter, who had hip surgery last August, said he was happy with his progress.
- The Mets will take things slow with Mauricio, who missed last season after tearing his ACL in winter ball. “This is a guy that missed the whole year last year and had some setbacks, but we like where he’s at physically right now,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s doing baseball activities. He’s hitting in the cages, he’s taking ground balls. He’s throwing.”
- Right-hander Paul Blackburn (back) started throwing off a mound.
(Top photo of Pete Alonso: Jess Rapfogel / Getty Images)
