The New York Mets’ 2025 campaign ended with more questions than answers. A team that once sat comfortably in postseason position unraveled over the final three-and-a-half months, tumbling out of the playoff race and leaving management with a sobering assessment: the Mets were not good enough at preventing runs.
That was the phrase repeated most by president of baseball operations David Stearns in his season-ending press conference Monday at Citi Field. While Stearns praised certain aspects of the roster, his sharpest criticism centered on defense. Errors, poor range, and a lack of athleticism cost the Mets countless games during the stretch run, including critical losses to the division-rival Marlins in the final week.
And nowhere does the defense-versus-offense debate crystallize more clearly than with Pete Alonso.
The Mets’ longtime slugger, beloved by fans and already the franchise’s all-time home run leader, is once again entering free agency. On paper, Alonso just authored one of his finest seasons. He hit 38 home runs, drove in 112 runs, led the majors in doubles with 41, and posted his highest OPS (.871) since his historic rookie year in 2019. He also appeared in all 162 games for a second consecutive season, underscoring his durability and reliability.
Yet defensively, Alonso was near the bottom of the league. Among 39 qualified first basemen, he ranked 38th in Outs Above Average, a metric that measures range and ability to convert batted balls into outs. His glove miscues were not abstract statistics; they were tangible, game-altering plays. In a crucial late-September loss in Miami, Alonso failed to spear a line drive, then misplayed a routine grounder — mistakes that opened the floodgates for a six-run inning.
Alonso will turn 31 in December, an age at which significant defensive improvement is unlikely. That reality leaves the Mets with a decision that could define their offseason: Can they afford to keep their most productive hitter if it means sacrificing defense in the name of offense?
A Season That Exposed Defensive Flaws
The Mets’ 2025 record tells only part of the story. While the offense ranked top-five in the National League in runs scored, slugging percentage, and on-base-plus-slugging, the team consistently gave runs back on the other side of the ball. New York’s pitchers were not helped by a defense that ranked near the bottom in advanced run prevention categories.
Stearns, hired two years ago to reshape the franchise with a long-term vision, did not mince words. “Run prevention is where we need to improve,” he said Monday. “That means pitching, and it means defense. We have to be open-minded about our position player group because of how much our defense struggled.”
It is a statement that puts players like Alonso — bat-first corner infielders with declining mobility — under the microscope.
Alonso’s 2025: Offensive Peak, Defensive Valley
From an offensive standpoint, Alonso did almost everything the Mets could have asked. His 38 home runs ranked among league leaders, and his 41 doubles paced Major League Baseball. His OPS of .871 was his best in six seasons, a resurgence after two years of slight decline. Alonso also maintained a strikeout rate below league average while posting career-high hard-contact numbers, underscoring his consistency as a power threat.
Durability remains one of Alonso’s trademarks. In an era when many stars miss significant time with nagging injuries, Alonso has played at least 145 games in every full season of his career. His back-to-back 162-game campaigns in 2024 and 2025 stand out in particular.
Defensively, however, the numbers tell a different story. Outs Above Average placed him second-to-last among qualified first basemen. Defensive Runs Saved graded him similarly. Alonso struggled with lateral quickness, often failing to field balls in the hole or ranging behind him on line drives. Errors on routine plays — such as the ones against Miami — only amplified the concern.
Turning 31, Alonso is unlikely to reinvent himself with the glove. The best-case scenario is maintaining his current level; the more likely scenario is further decline. That reality forces the Mets into difficult roster conversations.
David Stearns’ Roster-Building Philosophy
To understand why Alonso’s future in Queens is not guaranteed, one must understand Stearns’ philosophy. In Milwaukee, where he rose to prominence as the Brewers’ general manager, Stearns built competitive teams on the foundation of run prevention. Those clubs thrived on elite pitching, athletic outfield defense, and versatile infield play.
In New York, Stearns has repeatedly emphasized balance. “We want to score runs, but we also have to prevent them,” he said. The 2025 season demonstrated what happens when the scales tip too heavily toward offense at the expense of defense.
That is why Stearns’ words about being “open-minded” regarding the position player group carried significance. While he reiterated his admiration for Alonso — “Pete is a great Met. He had a fantastic year. I’d love to have him back,” Stearns said — his actions in the offseason will ultimately speak louder.
The Designated Hitter Conundrum
One potential compromise would be to re-sign Alonso but shift him into a more permanent designated hitter role. On paper, that would preserve his bat while minimizing his defensive liability.
Yet roster construction complicates the idea. The DH spot in modern baseball is rarely locked to a single player. Teams use it to rotate regulars, provide rest for outfielders, or manage workloads for veterans. For the Mets, outfielder Brandon Nimmo often benefits from DH days to protect his legs. Juan Soto, who was statistically the worst defensive right fielder in baseball this year by Outs Above Average, is another candidate who might need time at DH to mask defensive shortcomings.
Locking Alonso into the role full-time could clog roster flexibility. It would also force Soto back into the outfield daily, compounding defensive issues.
The Free-Agent Market for Alonso
This winter presents a different free-agent environment for Alonso than last year. After the 2024 season, Alonso lingered unsigned into February, eventually returning to the Mets on a one-year, $30 million deal that included a 2026 player option. He will decline that option this offseason.
In 2024–25, Alonso’s market was hampered by a qualifying offer, defensive concerns, and a relatively down offensive season. In 2025, however, his bat reestablished him as one of the premier sluggers in the game. Without the drag of draft-pick compensation, he is a more attractive target.
Teams in need of middle-of-the-order power — such as the Cubs, Giants, Red Sox, Mariners, and Padres — could emerge as bidders. The universal DH in both leagues broadens his market.
The question is whether any club, including the Mets, is willing to commit long-term dollars to a 31-year-old first baseman whose glove is a liability. Recent history suggests caution. Freddie Freeman’s six-year deal with the Dodgers is an outlier; José Abreu and Anthony Rizzo both secured shorter, more modest pacts.
Mets’ Payroll Picture and Priorities
Owner Steve Cohen has never shied away from flexing financial muscle. The Mets’ payroll has led baseball in multiple seasons under his ownership. Yet money is not the only factor in the Alonso decision.
The Mets face a roster puzzle. They need pitching depth after injuries and underperformance derailed their 2025 rotation. They must decide how aggressively to pursue a long-term extension for Soto, who will be entering his final arbitration year. They also have to improve defense up the middle, where inconsistent play from shortstop and center field cost runs.
Committing $200 million or more to Alonso could limit flexibility to address those areas. While Cohen has resources, even he must weigh efficiency in building a balanced roster.
The Fan Factor and Alonso’s Legacy
Beyond numbers and payroll, Alonso carries immense symbolic weight. Drafted by the Mets, he burst onto the scene in 2019 with 53 home runs as a rookie, capturing the Home Run Derby and the hearts of fans. He has since become the franchise’s all-time home run leader, surpassing legends like Darryl Strawberry and Mike Piazza.
Letting Alonso walk would be emotionally difficult for the fan base. He is one of the most popular Mets of his generation, a face of the franchise alongside Nimmo and now Soto.
Other teams have faced similar crossroads. The Braves parted ways with Freddie Freeman, only to see him thrive in Los Angeles. The White Sox allowed José Abreu to depart, and their offense suffered in the aftermath. The Astros, meanwhile, showed the risks of betting on aging sluggers when Abreu’s production declined rapidly.
The Mets must balance sentimentality with sustainability.
Possible Paths Forward
Stearns and Cohen have several options this offseason:
- Re-sign Alonso as a 1B/DH hybrid
- Likely a shorter-term deal (3–5 years) with high annual value.
- Preserves offense while managing defensive exposure.
- Commit fully to Alonso as DH
- Requires creative roster maneuvering to manage Nimmo and Soto’s needs.
- Sacrifices flexibility but maximizes offensive production.
- Let Alonso walk in free agency
- Frees money for Soto, pitching, and defense-first acquisitions.
- Risks alienating fans and weakening the lineup in the short term.
- Explore trade or replacement options
- Pursue a younger, more defensively skilled first baseman.
- Could signal a philosophical shift toward run prevention.
What Comes Next
The decision on Alonso will not come overnight. Free agency begins in early November, with the GM Meetings later that month providing a key setting for discussions. The Mets’ internal evaluation will likely center on whether they can build a championship-caliber defense while keeping Alonso’s bat in the lineup.
For now, Stearns’ words remain carefully balanced. “I’d love to have Pete back,” he said. “But we’ll see where the offseason goes.”
Between the lines, the message was clear: the Mets will not ignore defense again. Whether that means saying goodbye to one of their greatest sluggers will be the defining storyline of the Mets’ winter.
