What's wrong with Boras? 'Expecting a big FA' home run king shock → Finally, he made me wake up with 'crisp'
What's wrong with Boras? 'Expecting a big FA' home run king shock → Finally, he made me wake up with 'crisp'
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Pete Alonso (31), a slugger and former home run king of the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) remains in the New York Mets without making a big hit as a free agent. Considering that the contract is expected to be a big hit, it is a big hit.
MLB.com , the official website of Major League Baseball, reported on the 6th (Korea time) that "Alonso signed a two-year, $54 million contract with New York Media."
Alonso will reportedly receive a down payment of 10 million U.S. dollars and 20 million U.S. dollars in annual salary this year. And after the end of this season, it reportedly includes a clause that allows him to opt out (cancellation of the contract due to the exercise of FA rights during the contract period). If he does not execute the opt-out, he can stay with the Mets for 24 million dollars.
In fact, Alonso has chosen to re-enter the FA market. If Alonso makes a strong performance this season, he will be able to raise his ransom to the FA market and receive evaluation.
Alonso made his Major League debut in 2019 after being drafted by the Mets in 2016. That year, he hit 53 home runs and became the National League's home run king. This is the record of the most home runs in a single season by a rookie in the big league. He received high expectations as he won the Rookie of the Year along with the Home Run King.
Alonso continued to display his instinct by hitting home runs. The following year, in the 2020 season, he played only 57 games, but hit 16 home runs. He then hit 37 home runs in the 2021 season, 40 in the 2022 season, 46 in the 2023 season, and 34 in the 2024 season.
Alonso played in 846 games for six seasons from the 2019 season to the last one, posting a batting average of 0.249 (781 hits in 3,139) with 226 homers and doubles, seven triples, five 86 RBIs and 493 runs, a 358-ball, 822 strikeouts and 17 steals (two failed attempts) with an on-base percentage of 0.339 and a slugging percentage of 0.514 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 0.853. Notably, his 226 homers were the second highest in the same period. Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees posted 232 homers during the same period, six more than Alonso. Alonso also had the honor of being named an All-Star for four times in his career.
Alonso is certainly considered to be less sophisticated in his contact compared to his strong ability to hit home runs. He hit .217 in the 2023 season, the lowest batting average in his personal career, and only 0.240, last season.
The Mets also admitted this performance. More than anything else, after the end of the 2023 season, the Mets offered Alonso a huge, long-term contract. At the time, the Mets offered Alonso a seven-year, 158 million-dollar contract. However, Alonso rejected the offer. Then, Alonso was in the FA market this season. However, the market was not as enthusiastic as I thought.
Rumors have it that the Mets also suffered a lot during the negotiation process. Stephen Cohen, the "billionaire" owner, openly expressed that the negotiation process with Alonso was uncomfortable. According to ESPN, Cohen described the negotiation with Alonso as "a conversation that was exhausting for me personally." Citing Juan Soto, who he acquired this winter, he said, "It was difficult (to sign with Soto), but Alonso was even worse. We thought we made a big offer, but they said they didn't like the proposal. I think it is a very unfair structure to us. We feel strongly rejected."
During the last season, Alonso played in all 162 games, posting a batting average of 0.240 (or 146 hits in 608 times at bat) with 34 homers and 31 doubles, 91 runs scored in 88 RBIs, 70 walks, 172 strikeouts, and 3 steals (failed), with an on-base percentage of 0.329 OPS of 0.459 OPS of 0.788. As he failed to display overwhelming performance, his team's tug-of-war with the Mets intensified. "I am a very frank person, but I do not like this negotiation. I don't like the terms that they offered us. At this rate, I think we should get used to the fact that we have to go with the current players," Cohen said in an ultimatum. 메이저놀이터
In the end, Alonso signed a two-year contract that includes an opt-out clause. Like Kim Ha-sung (30), who recently signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, this is called a "pillow contract." A "pillow-like contract" refers to a short-term contract that includes one-year or one-plus-year contracts signed by players such as "free agents" who failed to meet expectations due to injury or sluggish performance in the previous season. It is comfortable to lie on a pillow, but since you have to get up soon, it means such a temporary contract. Clubs can reduce the risk of signing long-term contracts with players whose performance is uncertain. In addition, players can use it as a stepping stone to make a jackpot by making long-term contracts after making better performances in the market. It is common in MLB.
Alonso's agent is Scott Boras, the so-called "demon agent." He was called the "master of negotiations," but this time he failed to give Alonso a jackpot contract. With the addition of Alonso, the Mets will be able to use the powerful Soto and Alonso in the batting order. Will Alonso be able to make a big hit in the FA market this season.