New York Mets Already Regret Letting Pete Alonso Walk?

The New York Mets made several bold roster moves this past offseason, overhauling their roster in hopes of bouncing back after a disastrous 2025 season. Key acquisitions like Freddy Peralta, Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, and Luis Robert Jr. were all brought in to help revitalize the team and make them contenders once again. However, just two weeks into the 2026 MLB season, the Mets might already be second-guessing one major decision: letting Pete Alonso walk in free agency.

In his article for Bleacher Report, Tim Kelly outlined three compelling reasons why the Mets might already regret parting ways with their franchise slugger.

The Struggles of Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco

While the Mets moved on from Pete Alonso to bring in several high-profile replacements, those replacements have not performed up to expectations — at least not yet. Both Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco, two players expected to contribute significantly, have struggled out of the gate.

Bichette, who was brought in to provide stability and offensive production, is hitting just .222 with a .505 OPS early in the season. Polanco, who was also acquired in the offseason to solidify the infield, is off to an even worse start, hitting .200 with just one RBI and a .564 OPS. These slow starts have created a void in the Mets’ lineup, one that they were hoping would be filled by these new additions.

In contrast, Pete Alonso may not have started off hot with the Baltimore Orioles — hitting only .188 with one home run, three RBIs, and a .556 OPS — but his absence from the Mets lineup has been felt. Alonso’s power bat, even in a rough start, would have provided a much-needed spark for a Mets team already looking to get things going in the right direction.

Mark Vientos Steps Up, but the Damage is Done

Fortunately for the Mets, Mark Vientos has stepped up early in the season, filling in at first base and delivering a solid performance. Vientos is hitting .370 with one home run, five RBIs, and a .956 OPS, which has helped mitigate some of the damage caused by the absence of Alonso. However, Vientos’ strong showing cannot completely erase the impact of letting Alonso go.

If not for Vientos’ unexpected performance, the Mets’ decision to let Alonso leave could have looked even worse, especially given the struggles of Bichette and Polanco. While Vientos has helped in the short term, the Mets are still feeling the loss of their long-time slugger, who has been a cornerstone of the franchise for several years.

Why Alonso’s Departure Is More Than Just On-Field Production

Despite Alonso’s early struggles with the Orioles, there’s a deeper reason why the Mets could regret letting him walk — it’s not just about his on-field production. Pete Alonso was the franchise leader in home runs and had the potential to cement himself as one of the all-time greats in Mets history. His leadership, presence, and long-term connection to the team made him a key figure for the future.

By letting Alonso walk, the Mets missed the opportunity to keep a player who could have gone down as an inner-circle Mets legend. Instead, Alonso is now forging a solid career with a new team, but his potential legacy in New York is starting to fade.

Had the Mets decided to lock up their power-hitting first baseman long-term, they would have had the chance to build around him and ensure he went down in franchise history as one of the most iconic players to ever wear the uniform. Now, with the struggles of Bichette and Polanco, the Mets are facing the reality that they might have made a grave error in parting ways with Alonso.

The Regret Is Already Settling In

The decision to let Pete Alonso walk was bold and aimed at giving the Mets a new direction. However, with Bichette and Polanco struggling early in the season and Alonso’s absence being felt more and more, it’s starting to look like the Mets may regret this move sooner rather than later.

Even though Alonso’s replacement — whether it be Vientos or another player — may eventually fill the statistical void, it’s hard to replace the leadership and emotional connection that Alonso brought to the team. The Mets could have had it all: the power bat, the leadership, and the franchise cornerstone. Instead, they now find themselves looking back at what could have been.

Conclusion: The Mets’ Offseason Gamble Might Already Be Backfiring

The Mets’ offseason overhaul was designed to make them stronger, but after a rough start to the 2026 season, they might already be wondering if they made a mistake in letting Pete Alonso leave. While the team still has time to turn things around, the early struggles of Bichette and Polanco, along with the continued success of Alonso with another team, are starting to make the decision to part ways with their star slugger seem like a regretful one. Whether the Mets can recover from this loss or whether it will define their season remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the absence of Pete Alonso is being felt in New York.