"keeping two long-time roster staples in first baseman Pete Alonso and closer . Alonso has already said he will be declining his $24MM player option for 2026 in order to re-enter free agency, and Diaz is widely expected to test the market as well by declining his player options for the 2026-27 seasons (as per the terms of Diaz's deal, he must exercise or decline both options at once)."
"Many Mets fans will make the point that the club could or should just re-sign both players. Money isn't really an object for a team that has boasted record payrolls under Steve Cohen's ownership, and Alonso and Diaz are each coming off big seasons. For all of the Mets' issues in 2025, Alonso and Diaz weren't part of the problem - Alonso hit .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs over 709 plate appearances, and Diaz recorded 28 saves while posting a 1.63 ERA and 38% strikeout rate over 66 1/3 innings."
"The Mets and Alonso just went through this free agent dance last winter, as after a lack of interest from other suitors and a protracted series of negotiations with New York's front office, Alonso settled for a two-year, $54MM deal with an opt-out clause after the first season. Alonso's goal of entering the market with a better platform season came to fruition."
The Mets finished 2025 with an epic collapse and missed the playoffs, creating offseason questions and roster decisions. The club must decide whether to retain longtime fixtures Pete Alonso and Diaz, both expected to decline player options and test free agency. Alonso will decline a $24MM 2026 option to re-enter the market, and Diaz is widely expected to decline his 2026-27 options. Payroll capacity under ownership reduces financial constraints, and both players had strong 2025 performances. Previous negotiations left Alonso on a two-year, $54MM deal with an opt-out after one season, achieving his platform goal.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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