While appearing as a guest on the Foul Territory program on Wednesday, Nightengale asserted that there is no guarantee that Alonso will re-sign with the New York Mets this winter.
“They’re ready to walk away from him this year,” Nightengale said of the Mets and Alonso. “They’re saying the right things, but if he gets a good offer out there, we’ll see if they want to match it or not. I don’t think there’s any guarantee whatsoever that Pete Alonso is back.”
Nightengale proceeded to suggest that the Mets could easily move Mark Vientos over to first base if Alonso left, or they could make a cheap signing for guys like Paul Goldschmidt or Rhys Hoskins to fill in at the position in 2026.
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Alonso delivered a 2025 season that solidified his status as one of baseball’s premier power hitters. Entering the year on a two-year, $54 million pact with an opt-out clause, the 30-year-old first baseman shook off prior concerns about his trajectory with a campaign blending consistency and explosiveness. His ironman effort in every single one of the Mets’ 162 games spoke to his durability, while his bat sparked rallies that kept New York in the playoff hunt until the final day of the regular season.
Alonso slashed .272/ .347/ .524/ .871, mashing 38 home runs and driving in 126 runs (his highest RBI total since 2021). He topped the National League with 41 doubles (tied with Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson), a personal best that showcased newfound gap power, and earned his first Silver Slugger award for elite offensive production at first base.
An All-Star nod marked his fifth career selection, and a scorching June stretch (12-for-30 with five homer) netted Alonso NL Player of the Week honors. Though defensive metrics ranked him near the bottom among qualified first basemen, his 141 wRC+ and 3.5 bWAR reflect his value as a lineup anchor.
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Over seven seasons, all with the Mets, Alonso’s career boasts a .253 average, 264 homers, and 951 hits, fueled by his 2019 rookie explosion of 53 long balls and an NL Rookie of the Year trophy. As suitors like the Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies circle, Alonso might leave the Mets with an expensive decision soon.
