LAS VEGAS — Power and perseverance are the focal points of Pete Alonso’s free agency, according to his high-profile agent.
In his annual State of the Boras address at the general managers’ meetings, Scott Boras (who is never afraid of a pun) went the alliterative route Wednesday in answering questions about the star first baseman, who opted out of his contract with the Mets after the World Series to become a free agent for the second straight offseason.
Boras, who last winter negotiated a two-year contract worth $54 million for Alonso that included an opt out, was asked if his client was open to shifting to a primary DH role given the emphasis the Mets are placing on defensive improvement. Alonso last season was among MLB’s worst first basemen in terms of range, according to Statcast.
“Pete at this point in his career is about winning,” Boras said, referring to the possibility of Alonso at DH. “There’s no doubt Pete’s pursuers are primed to pay the power piper. Pete picked a perfect period to play preeminently at a primary position. A playoff parched plethora will pounce to participate in the Polar Plunge.”
Alonso’s apparent willingness to DH can only improve his chances of a reunion with the Mets.
“He’s clearly a really good offensive player and I think for any team, the ability to get his bat in the lineup in multiple ways is helpful, and it’s great to know that Pete is open to stuff like that,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said.
Unlike last offseason, Alonso is not attached to a qualifying offer, meaning any team that signs him won’t have to surrender a draft pick. His market last winter may have been stunted due to receiving the qualifying offer.
Alonso, who turns 31 next month, is seeking a contract of at least seven years, according to a source. It follows a season in which he produced a .272/.347/.524 slash line with 38 homers and 126 RBIs. Alonso also played all 162 games for a second straight season.
“The focus on Pete is, [teams] all talk about his durability,” Boras said. “He’s a guy that really has a nature about him where it’s just his duty, no matter how he feels or what he does, to be on the field. And when you are in rooms for a couple of days with teams, it’s funny with all of the elements, what they say is, ‘Pete possesses a pachyderm-like perseverance.’
“He has a nature about him that is power production, punishing pitchers. They are fully aware of his skill, but I think what they most pay attention to is the core element of what he can do to provide a team that consistency of 40 home runs, power production, because they are just not finding it. They are finding a lot of players in the market that are somewhat there and somewhat not.”
Alonso last season became the franchise’s all-time home run leader, surpassing Darryl Strawberry, and remains among the most popular Mets players of this generation.
Alonso’s Mets legacy figures to be a key component of negotiations with the team.
“Pete has been a lifetime Met and when he reflects on his career, it’s all he has to look to,” Boras said. “The one thing I think Pete understands is that playing in New York is not something most can do — to become a star-level player in New York, even fewer can do it. I think the New York fans recognize it and they have been very outward and appreciative of him.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
