Throughout the history of the New York Mets franchise, the concept of having players remain Mets for their entire careers has proven elusive. This trend extends back to the departure of Tom Seaver, known as “The Franchise,” who was traded away in 1977.
The list of notable departures includes Nolan Ryan, Dwight Gooden, and Darryl Strawberry, key contributors to the Mets’ 1986 World Series victory. Even David Wright, a promising talent whose career was cut short by injuries, and José Reyes, who came up through the farm system alongside Wright, eventually left the team.
While the Mets have seen the arrival of star players like Mike Piazza, Pedro Martínez, and Tom Glavine, they have yet to boast a figure akin to Derek Jeter—a Hall of Famer who spent his entire career with one team.
Pete Alonso, recently avoiding arbitration with a one-year, $20.5 million contract for the 2024 season, is eligible to become a free agent after the season concludes. The hope is that Alonso, often regarded as one of the Mets’ own by passionate fans, will remain a Met for life.
Unlike Seaver, who had no say in his departure due to a trade, Alonso has the potential to walk away at the end of the season if the Mets fail to secure him with a contract extension. Darryl Strawberry, reflecting on his own departure in free agency, expresses sadness and hopes Alonso does not share the same regrets.
Strawberry acknowledges the different dynamics between Alonso and the organization, emphasizing the importance of reaching an agreement that keeps Alonso with the team. He wishes for Alonso to continue breaking records and be the player he has been for the Mets.
Despite any misjudgments during his career, Strawberry accurately identifies Alonso as the most popular Met since Wright, having become the face of the franchise over his five years with the team. Alonso’s consistent performance, impressive home run numbers, and reliability in showing up for games make him a cornerstone for the Mets, especially in times of uncertainty about the team’s future.
Even with the speculation that Scott Boras, Alonso’s new agent, may discourage a long-term contract extension, the article argues that the Mets should make an effort to retain Alonso. In a history marked by the departure of many stars, the sentiment is clear: the Polar Bear needs to stay as the Mets’ best player, star, and brand.
