The Mets can end the Pete Alonso trade rumors with this extension offer

Want to end the speculation? Pete Alonso trade rumors have run amuck since Tuesday night. The star New York Mets first baseman was discussed in potential deals with the Chicago Cubs and more notably the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline. How close the trades actually got to happening is a matter of opinion. Said to be "within field goal range" by one source, it depends if we're talking about Adam Vinatieri or one of the many 130lb guys whose range in the earlier days whose range didn’t go much beyond 30 yards.

Putting an end to the Mets trade rumors can only happen with a contract extension. The offer the Mets should make Alonso won't come close to matching the $341 million deal teammate Francisco Lindor received. What they should share is the one-million more in total value in comparison to another player at their position.

The Mets should award Pete Alonso contract extension one million more than Matt Olson is getting from the Braves

Matt Olson could end up winning this year's NL home run title and maybe even the MVP. He’s having a great year, as sickening as it is. The similarities between him and Alonso aren't always the most obvious. He came to Atlanta with power and great defense. His power explosion this year puts him in the elite class of sluggers alongside Alonso.

As an overall player, it's hard to argue Alonso is the superior one. Alonso is a better pure slugger. In other spots, they're equal or Olson has the edge.

It's Olson's 8-year deal worth $168 million we should pay attention to closely. Giving Alonso a 7 or 8-year offer for $169 million is reasonable and follows the guideline of how the Mets went one million over the Fernando Tatis Jr. extension at $340 million. It would tell Alonso they value him. The million bump over doesn’t necessarily adjust for inflation, but it does say he’s in the same class.

The other recent contract for a first baseman to compare Alonso to would be Freddie Freeman whose 6-year deal worth $162 million had a higher AAV but less overall. Alonso, now 28, has plenty of years left in him for a contract at least through his age 36 campaign. There’d likely be an opt out in there for him earlier on with maybe the team getting a chance to cut ties in the latter stage(s).

Steve Cohen has spent money fearlessly. He has gone as far as to pay ridiculous money owed to Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander just to trade them away for prospects. Even if it takes a bid putting him higher than two of the best at the position in this game, the Mets would be foolish to not make a contract extension with Alonso a priority.

Final offer: 7-years, $169 million for a lower AAV than Freeman but higher total than Olson.