Pete Alonso (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Pete Alonso is still to find a home and could very well be the last first baseman standing in the current MLB landscape. Well, this will not be the first time someone will wait until spring training commences. But the former Miami Marlins president knows what is getting in the way of a multi-million dollar deal.
Taking to his YouTube channel, Nothing Personal with David Samson, the ex-Marlins chief called out Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras. Samson pointed out Boras for intentionally delaying the deal to get more engagement from his agent, which eventually could pay off in a bigger margin from the deal amount.
“Seems like Scott Boris overplayed The Pete Alonzo hand. The natural fit for him has always been back with the Mets and for me it was always the Mets. In order to be better, you bring Alonzo back. You’ve added [Juan] Soto, you’ve added to your lineup. If Soto is only replacing Alonzo you get the incremental difference but not enough to make you better than even someone in the National League East,” Samson said.
However plain it might seem from an analysis point of view, it’s not a great time to be Alonso. The Mets are transitioning their roster with hefty spending over $918 million, primarily on Juan Soto. The star first baseman may find himself returning to New York for a short-term deal as the franchise weighs its options. Interest from other teams exists, but the hesitation to jump at a long-term investment is a broader trend in the league.
Agent Scott Boras Is Using Prince Fielder’s Contract As Benchmark For Pete Alonso
Despite interest from a couple of franchises, Pete Alonso has yet to break out at any of them. Other than the complications with his salary, his super-agent Scott Boras is getting wind of criticism. As it is widely perceived, Boras is strategically leveraging Prince Fielder’s past contract to set the market price for his client Alonso.
If he is not right in doing so, he is not wrong either. As one of the last prominent free agents available, the powerful first baseman is seeking a deal that compensates his on-field contributions. Nightengale has highlighted that Boras is looking at the nine-year, $214 million contract Fielder signed with the Detroit Tigers prior to the 2012 season as a comparable framework for Alonso’s value.
This historical anchor emphasizes Boras’s intent to secure a lucrative deal for the “Polar Bear,” given Alonso’s capability and market demand. Despite Alonso’s standout performance and the interest from at least eight teams, including the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, many franchises remain cautious about meeting Boras’s lofty expectations.
