Long NY Mets contract standoff with Pete Alonso isn't the only "rePete" rumors coming

Here we go again. The New York Mets staredown with Pete Alonso last offseason worked. Maybe too well, since now we're here with the knowledge that Alonso plans to opt out and is once again in search of a seven-year mega deal.

Prioritizing a reunion with Alonso will once again be on the top of the to-do list for David Stearns, but as we learned last year, there's a line in the sand he won't cross. And, as silly as it is to say, the Mets need to watch their pennies. There are a lot of holes to fill, so maintaining 2025's payroll level is a near-must. Exceeding it, though? That might be a bridge too far for even Steve Cohen.

There will be patience with Alonso, but it will not be infinite. At some point, the Mets will turn their attention to other options if Alonso doesn't find his dream deal somewhere else first. That brings about another "rePete" scenario, though in a bit of a different context.

A deal for Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson could be the "rePete" scenario the Mets end up at the end of the day

If and when the Mets run out of patience with Alonso, turning to the trade market might be the best way to fill the first base void. A player they could target might just end up being a younger version of Pete.

Spencer Torkelson was the first overall pick by the Detroit Tigers back in 2020. With that lofty draft status came expectations. A lot of them.

Torkelson struggled in his rookie season two years later, hitting just eight home runs and slashing .203/.285/.319 in 110 games. He'd follow that up with 31 homers in his sophomore season, but 2024 saw him take a step back again to the point that his place on Detroit's roster wasn't guaranteed once spring training began this past February.

However, the 26-year-old finally had the breakout that the Tigers envisioned when they drafted him. This season, he hit .240/.333/.456 with 31 homers. That's basically 2024 Pete Alonso production (hence the rePete). Take a closer look.

Eerily similar, right?

But after waiting so long for Torkelson to break out, why would Detroit turn around and trade him on the heels of an ALDS appearance? Their president of baseball operations, Scott Harris, has the answer.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Harris said the following. “I expect the players that posted dominant years in Double-A to factor into our big league team next year.”

He was referring primarily to shortstop Kevin McGonigle and outfielder Max Clark, both of whom are top-10 prospects in baseball. But that can also apply to another pair of infielders, Hao-Yu Lee and Max Anderson, both of whom are also highly regarded and come with experience at both second and third base.

Detroit needs to revamp its infield with massive struggles from both the shortstop and third base positions, plus having Gleyber Torres hit free agency. Taking Harris at his word, those improvements will come internally.

The final piece to the puzzle is 24-year-old Colt Keith. Keith signed an extension last year that will have him in Detroit through at least 2029, and his best defensive position is first base. That could mean Torkelson, who is projected to make $5.1 million in his first year of arbitration, is the odd man out.

For the Mets, the fit is clear. Torkelson would give them a baseline of 2024 Alonso production with the possibility of more based on his draft pedigree. On top of that, his remaining three years of team control would be much more affordable than Alonso, giving the club the ammo to go big at other areas of need like the pitching staff and center field.

If Pete truly rePetes than finding the next best rePete could be the Mets' best path forward.