About three hours prior to the first pitch of his debut game at Citi Field as an opposing player, Pete Alonso entered the batting cage located outside the Mets’ clubhouse on the home side — a rare move for visiting players. It quickly became clear that Alonso wasn’t an ordinary visitor.
Francisco Alvarez greeted him enthusiastically, exclaiming with unprintable affection and embracing Alonso warmly, reflecting the respect and admiration Alonso commanded from everyone at Citi Field that day.
The irony was palpable: the only people seemingly convinced the Mets were better off without Alonso were those who chose not to re-sign him during free agency.
From a baseball perspective, the chapter has closed. Alonso is now the centerpiece of the Orioles, committed to them for the next four seasons. The Mets, meanwhile, have struggled to replace the void left by Alonso’s departure — if indeed anyone could ever fill it.
Emotionally, however, Alonso’s exit remains unresolved. There is still pain that hasn’t fully settled, and no widespread acceptance yet.
The Mets front office’s decision appears flawed. The 2026 Mets have not been an improvement without Alonso, and ultimately, their success will be measured against that absence. For now, critics who doubted the Mets’ choices hold valid points.
Alonso has skillfully addressed multiple questions regarding the Mets’ failure to negotiate his return. During Monday’s press, he responded with practiced diplomacy, stating he didn’t take it personally that the Mets didn’t pursue him.
He explained, “When you have a really good opportunity, you have great dialogue, you don’t necessarily want to, kind of, ruin that. So for me, I didn’t want to look anywhere else because Baltimore was putting in a tremendous effort.” He then reaffirmed his contentment with the Orioles.
“Two things can be true at once: I’m very happy and appreciative of my time as a Met, and I’m beyond grateful for the Baltimore Orioles,” Alonso said.
After more than 15 minutes of answering questions from a deep crowd of reporters, Alonso apologized and exited quickly to the visitors’ clubhouse, barefoot.
When Alonso appeared for batting practice, fans in his jerseys cheered loudly, a chorus that repeated every time he stepped to the cage, his name was announced, and even during the national anthem despite his absence on the field. The crowd’s chants continued as he warmed up, prompting him to tip his cap, only to do so again when a tribute video played.
During his at-bat, the stadium rose, chanting his name persistently. Though he popped out during the inning, fans shouted “Fire Stearns” in protest and cheered Alonso’s name again when a ground ball eluded the current Mets first baseman, Brett Baty.
Francisco Lindor reflected after the game, “You look at his stats and say, ‘That’s Pete Alonso,’ but then you look in our clubhouse and believe the guys here can still win games; we just haven’t had health or consistency. Personally, I do miss him.”
While the Mets continue to struggle, Alonso’s Orioles are far from guaranteed a postseason spot themselves, trailing by three games with 11 to play, though still hanging onto hope.
Alonso went 0-for-3 with a walk, delaying the moment Mets fans feared most — witnessing his 300th career home run at Citi Field in a different uniform, though he has two more chances.
In a dramatic twist, Alonso’s Orioles won 2-1, officially knocking the Mets out of playoff contention.
Fan Take: This story highlights how crucial star players like Pete Alonso are to a team’s identity and success — their impact goes well beyond statistics. For baseball fans, it underscores the emotional and strategic risks teams face in free agency, reminding us that losing a franchise cornerstone can shape a club’s trajectory for years.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
