The New York Mets want to bring back All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso after this season, but owner Steve Cohen doesn’t expect a new deal to take place until Alonso hits free agency this offseason, he said recently on a team podcast.

“We’re always open to conversation, but he’s earned the right to explore his value,” Cohen said on “Meet at the Apple.” “I’m highly supportive of all players doing that. Just like we ended up figuring it out with Edwin Díaz and Brandon Nimmo, it would be my hope that we do the same with Pete.”

Alonso, 29, has spent all five seasons of his MLB career with the Mets and agreed to a one-year, $20.5 million contract on Jan. 11 to avoid arbitration. With free agency looming, Alonso recently said he thought about being with the team for his entire career.

“I love it here,” Alonso said Saturday, marking the first time he’s spoken publicly since the end of last season. “I definitely have envisioned myself being a lifelong Met, that’s something I’ve definitely thought about. … I welcome the idea, but I can’t predict the future.”

GO DEEPER

Alonso: I’ve ‘envisioned myself being a lifelong Met’

Alonso slashed .217/.318/.504 with 46 home runs and 108 RBIs last season, his third 40-HR year in New York. His 192 home runs over the last five seasons are the most in Major League Baseball.

“We want to keep him,” Cohen said. “He’s an important part of our team today and hopefully in the future.”

Cohen’s comments are unsurprising. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns recently acknowledged Alonso’s hitting free agency seemed like the most likely outcome. And league sources expect the Mets to aggressively pursue Alonso in the offseason.

That only makes sense. He’s a homegrown star. He remains in his prime. He’s durable. He provides elite power.

As Cohen mentioned, New York previously let Díaz and Nimmo hit free agency in 2022 before bringing both players back on long-term deals.

“I’m not tone deaf, OK,” Cohen said. “I totally understand the fans’ love of Pete. I can’t predict the future. I don’t know what their expectations are, and we’ll find out. The reality is there’s never one player that makes a team, that’s why they call it a team. We’ve got to do what’s in the best interest of the club over any one player.

“I hope he hits 55 home runs and makes it so difficult on me in free agency. I would call that a great outcome.”

Required reading

(Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images)