The New York Mets inflicted unprecedented pain on the New York Yankees less than a week ago. Do the Yankees still have a counterpunch in them?
When Mets owner Steve Cohen signed former Yankees right fielder Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract, it marked a potential seismic shift in New York baseball. But the Yankees are still the Yankees, so they won’t cede control of the city to the Mets without a fight.
Four-time All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso is also a free agent, and Cohen and the Mets have recently expressed their desire to bring him back, even after the Soto contract. The Yankees, however, also have a gigantic hole at first base at the moment.
Recently, Alonso was projected for a six-year, $182 million contract by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report. That’s obviously money Cohen has to spare individually, but would push the Mets ever deeper into the shadow realm of luxury tax offender penalties.
On Saturday, another Bleacher Report writer weighed in. Erik Beaston predicted that Alonso would spurn the Mets for the Yankees, adding more fuel to the fire of the Subway Series this winter.
“If the Mets genuinely want a reunion with Alonso and are not simply talking a big game to avoid backlash from fans, it will likely have to pony up the cash to keep a guy who has been one of the most popular stars on the team since his arrival five years ago.”
“Prediction: Alonso stays in New York, but as the first baseman for the Yankees.”
If it does come down to the two New York teams for Alonso, the Yankees clearly have the bigger need at first base. The position was a disaster for them in the playoffs, as a combination of Anthony Rizzo, Jon Berti, and Oswaldo Cabrera failed to do much of anything offensively.
However, this isn’t about need, it’s about willingness to go the extra mile for the player. Perhaps the Yankees’ desperation will swing the needle in their favor, but don’t count out the Mets just yet.
More MLB: Mets breakout star predicted to land $76M Orioles deal as Corbin Burnes’ replacement
