The Verdict
The decision will come whether the Mets will look to re-sign their homegrown slugger, Pete Alonso, or pursue a more budget friendly option in Christian Walker. Both players bring unique strengths and weaknesses, making it a tough choice for David Stearns.
Alonso offers immense potential and star power but his high price tag may limit the Mets' ability to address other needs. Walker, on the other hand, provides a more affordable and versatile option, but may not have the same offensive ceiling as Alonso.
The Mets' decision will have implications for the team's near future, whether they choose to go all in for Alonso or opt for a more conservative approach like Walker. Though given the Mets' aggressive pursuit of top talent, as evidenced by their bid for Juan Soto, retaining Alonso seems like the logical choice.
Although the risk of becoming a designated hitter in the short term is high, today's baseball lacks figures of consistent power like Alonso, and even more so knowing that he has been able to succeed in a market as demanding as that of the city of New York.
Likewise, his inconsistency at the plate should be improved with the arrival of new faces to the team, both externally and internally that will lighten a load of pressure that was added this past season by the need to produce before free agency. Signing Alonso is a no-brainer for the Mets who should not leave Pete's history with the team in that glorious home run against Devin Williams in the 2024 division series but rather we can enjoy his timely power throughout the following seasons.