This week, the Mets said goodbye to three significant players, either through trades or free agency.
Pete Alonso
Acquisition: He was selected in the second round (64th overall) in 2016 from the University of Florida.
Time with the Mets: He spent seven seasons with the team.
Highlights: A standout moment came with his dramatic three-run walk-off home run against current Mets closer Devin Williams in the bottom of the ninth during Game 3 of the 2024 Wild Card Series, when the Mets were facing elimination.
Alonso captured back-to-back Home Run Derby titles as a rookie in 2019 and again in 2021, after the event was not held in 2020. He was named Rookie of the Year and made five All-Star appearances. Last year, he became the Mets’ all-time home run leader, too. And, let’s not forget, he famously coined “LFGM,” which means “Let’s f–king go Mets.”
Departure: Following two years of uncertainty regarding his future, he signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles on Wednesday, opting out of a two-year deal at the end of last season. Reports suggest the Mets didn’t even extend an offer.
Edwin Diaz
Acquisition: He came to the Mets in a 2018 trade with the Mariners, which also involved Robinson Cano; the deal included releasing prospect Jared Kelenic.
Time with the Mets: Diaz played for seven seasons but spent the entire 2023 season sidelined due to injury.
Highlights: His entrance to Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco” turned into a thrilling spectacle, and he quickly established himself as one of the most electrifying closers in Major League Baseball. After a rough start with the team, he made a lot of fans happy and earned All-Star honors twice.
Unfortunately, he suffered a torn patellar tendon while participating in the World Baseball Classic, resulting in his absence throughout 2023.
Departure: He was released after last season, subsequently signing a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers on Tuesday. The Mets reportedly offered him a three-year contract worth $66 million.
Brandon Nimmo
Acquisition: Drafted in the first round (13th overall) in 2011 out of Cheyenne East High School in Wyoming.
Time with the Mets: He played for ten seasons.
Highlights: Known for his infectious smile and his habit of sprinting to first base after getting a walk, he won over many fans. Despite never being an All-Star, his reliability was commendable, as he played over 150 games in each of the last four seasons. One standout moment was in Game 161 of the Mets’ remarkable 2024 season, where he hit a two-run homer against the Braves.
Departure: The Mets traded him to the Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien.
