MLB insider shares why Mets could trade Pete Alonso

While speaking with reporters last week, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns didn't completely slam the door shut on possibly trading All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso this offseason. 

MLB insider Jeff Passan of ESPN offered more information on the subject for a piece published Tuesday. 

"Alonso has expressed interest in hammering out a contract extension with the Mets," Passan explained. "But he wants big money -- much bigger than the top first-base contracts doled out in recent years -- and, accordingly, the Mets are willing to listen to other teams. They are not chasing a trade. Unless contract talks fall apart, they're unlikely to pursue one. But if a motivated team approaches the Mets, new president of baseball operations David Stearns will hear them out." 

Stearns confirmed during an appearance on MLB Network last week that he and Alonso's camp will hold contract extension talks this fall and/or winter, and the executive later added he does "not anticipate" trading the popular slugger who turns 29 years old next month. However, Stearns also made it clear he doesn't "draw lines in the sand" and is "never going to say never" regarding a potential trade that theoretically would improve the Mets for and beyond the second half of the decade. 

Alonso is on track to reach free agency next fall and hired Scott Boras as his agent following this past season. The "Polar Bear" hit more home runs than any other player from the start of the 2019 campaign through the 2023 regular season (192) and seemingly should stay put through at least Opening Day 2024 if the Mets are serious about competing for a playoff spot next year. 

Of course, it's possible that Stearns and big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen view two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani as a potential replacement for Alonso. While Ohtani is routinely linked in stories with the Los Angeles Dodgers, it's thought he could sign a short-term contract that includes a high average annual value with a team such as the Mets so that he could test free agency again a few years down the road.