New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is back in Queens, but not on the blockbuster contract his agent, Scott Boras, had envisioned. After months of negotiations and a market that didn’t bite, Alonso ultimately signed a two-year, $54 million deal with the Mets—far from the six-year, $200 million payday Boras was reportedly seeking.
Boras’ Gamble Backfires
Boras is no stranger to playing the long game in free agency. The super-agent has built his reputation on extracting record-breaking deals for his clients, often by holding firm and waiting for a bidding war to emerge. But in this case, the strategy seems to have misfired.
Alonso, 30, entered free agency as one of the top sluggers available. His power numbers speak for themselves—192 home runs and 498 RBIs over five seasons with the Mets. Yet, despite his production, the market didn’t reflect the type of contract Boras was aiming for. By the time Alonso signed on Wednesday night, it was clear that teams weren’t willing to meet Boras’ demands.
A Negotiation That Didn’t Go as Planned
Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden predicted in late January that Alonso would “lose this negotiation.” Turns out, he was right. The Mets held their ground, and Alonso returned on their terms.
Fox Sports baseball writer Deesha Thosar noted that Steve Cohen, the Mets’ owner, took a firm stance throughout the process. Unlike Mets front offices of the past, Cohen’s group wasn’t going to overextend themselves. The hedge fund billionaire, who has an estimated net worth of $21.3 billion, didn’t feel pressured to hand out an excessive contract.
“The Mets certainly won this negotiation with Alonso,” Thosar wrote, highlighting the stark contrast between Cohen’s approach and that of previous Mets executives.
Cohen’s Take on the Deal
Despite the drawn-out negotiations, Cohen appeared pleased with the outcome. Speaking to the New York Post, he made it clear that the pressure is now off Alonso, at least in terms of securing a deal.
“If he performs well, good for him, right? I mean, how fantastic is that?” Cohen said in a Fox Sports interview. “He just has to be Pete. Go do his thing. Hopefully he’s more relaxed. Not saying he wasn’t relaxed. But hopefully he can go focus on what he does, which is baseball, and enjoy the season with his teammates. Let’s go win something.”
Alonso’s new deal also includes an opt-out after the first year, giving him flexibility if he delivers a standout season in 2024.
Mets’ Bigger Free Agent Battle: Juan Soto
While the Alonso negotiations dragged on for 12 weeks, Cohen and the Mets were simultaneously locked in a much bigger financial battle—one that ended with a historic deal for outfielder Juan Soto.
The Mets landed Soto with a 15-year, $765 million contract, making it one of the largest deals in MLB history. Compared to that saga, Cohen admitted that bringing Alonso back was significantly more exhausting. “The Soto negotiations were a walk in the park compared to this,” he told the Post.
The Highest-Paid First Baseman—For Now
Even though Alonso didn’t secure the long-term deal he wanted, his contract does come with one big perk: his 2025 salary of $30 million makes him the highest-paid first baseman in MLB, at least for one season.
That number might not hold for long. With stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Freddie Freeman consistently performing at elite levels, it’s only a matter of time before the market resets again. For now, though, Alonso holds the top spot—just not in the way Boras originally planned.
