Mets News: Pete Alonso goes full Teddy KGB in Francisco Lindor extension talks

The great thespian John Malkovich has given us many wonderful characters. Cyrus the Virus is a personal favorite of mine. I also respect him playing himself in Being John Malkovich. One of his more unique roles, in a film he wasn’t even close to starring in, came in the film Rounders. In it, he places a Russian gambler known as Teddy KGB. What does this have to do with the New York Mets? It’s a quote Mr. KGB had at the end of the film.

A spoiler alert is in effect for this 20+-year-old film. When Teddy KGB loses to Matt Damon’s character in the climax, he says these words “pay that man his money.”

This is exactly the stance Pete Alonso has taken when it comes to the Francisco Lindor extension talks. He thinks Lindor should get paid a lot more than what has been offered.

Pete Alonso wants the Mets to pay Francisco Lindor $400 million

Alonso wasn’t shy about how much he thinks new teammates Lindor deserves. As the Opening Day deadline approaches, the Polar Bear was getting in the final answers to the preseason questions. Undoubtedly, he would be asked about the ongoing extension talks with the star shortstop.

It’s easy for anyone to suggest the Mets pay Lindor $400 million. The money doesn’t come from our pockets.

As nice as it is to see and hear Alonso wave the orange and blue flag constantly and remain gung ho about the 2021 season, sometimes it feels like he is simply saying what he thinks the fans want to hear. We all love the black jerseys. We don’t need to hear about it constantly. It’s dye on laundry.

Mets fans all want a deal to get done. They want Steve Cohen, Sandy Alderson, and Zack Scott to do whatever they can to ensure Lindor remains the club’s shortstop for a good long while. Many fans feel the Mets should go above and beyond to leave no questions at shortstop for the next decade.

I do find it interesting to see Alonso speak up with such a specific number—one reportedly even higher than what Lindor is asking for. The support of his teammate is great to see. It’s only natural for players to side with each other against “the man” in the front office.

If Alonso truly does believe Lindor should get $400 million, I’m curious as to what he thinks Michael Conforto should get. What about Noah Syndergaard? Marcus Stroman?

Alonso is an MLB slugger and not a guy best-suited to balance a Major League Baseball payroll. Nevertheless, he’s saying what our inner Mets hearts all want: a happy All-Star shortstop for the next 10-12 years.

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Pay that man his money.