Alonso’s Performance and Team Injuries
Pete Alonso is really stepping up his game this season. That was the assessment made by David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for the Mets, when asked about the potential for contract extension talks with Alonso’s representatives during the current season.
Alonso, who rejoined the Mets on a two-year deal worth $54 million, has opt-out clauses starting this season following a lengthy negotiation process over the off-season.
As of Friday, Alonso boasts a .982 OPS, ranking him fifth in MLB, trailing only Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh, and Freddie Freeman.
Stearns, however, avoided discussing any contract negotiations ahead of their game at Citi Field. He did mention, “He’s had an incredible year; his contribution has been huge for our offense. I believe our lineup is functioning at a really high level right now.”
Alonso started June strong with 20 RBIs and an impressive 1.288 OPS.
On another note, Stearns shared that Jose Ciri has had to pause baseball activities after recovering from a fractured left tibia. Recent imaging showed that the bone hasn’t healed properly, which is concerning.
As a result, Ciri will be sidelined for a few weeks while further assessments take place to see if he can get back on track.
Ciri sustained his injury after fouling a ball off his shin on April 12th. Additionally, Jesse Winker remains “a few weeks away” from starting his minor league rehab, as he’s been dealing with oblique tightness since May 5th.
On a more positive note, Stearns reported that Brooks Raleigh is set to begin his minor league rehab assignment soon. A left-handed relief pitcher returning from Tommy John surgery, he’ll need about a month in the minors before he’s ready to return.
Interestingly, as of Friday the 13th, the Mets have become the only MLB team with four players hitting at least 13 home runs each—Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, and Juan Soto. This marks a notable achievement in franchise history, with four players reaching such a milestone so early in the season.
