Mets' slugger Pete Alonso and ace closer Edwin Diaz head to free agency, eyeing massive paydays and leaving New York with roster holes to fill.
Monday has been a rough day for fans of the New York Mets, as both first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz have opted out of their contracts in favor of entering free agency.
It’s hurtful news, but it’s not all that surprising. Alonso is searching for his biggest and well-deserved payday yet, after failing to secure such a deal in last year’s free agency. After an improved season with the Mets in 2025, Alonso should have an easier time signing a deal in the range of his estimated five-year, $147 million market value.
In 2025, Alonso made his fourth consecutive All-Star team, batting .272 on his way to 38 home runs, 126 RBIs, and an .871 OPS. He led the National League with 42 doubles on the season, bringing his extra-base hit total to 80.
Teams may be more willing to offer Alonso’s services this time around in free agency because he will no longer have a qualifying offer attached to him. Last year, the fact that teams had to give up a compensatory draft pick to sign Alonso was a deterrent, but it won’t play a factor this time around. Teams like the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers could all seriously pursue the 30-year-old, making it harder for the Mets to be the most enticing offer for Alonso.
Diaz also has his eyes on the free agent market after signing a reliever record five-year, $102 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. The 31-year-old put up his best season since 2022, posting an ERA of 1.63. He struck out 98 batters in just 66 ⅓ innings on his way to 28 saves. It’s no wonder Diaz decided to opt out of the remaining three years on his contract, as he’s likely to land another historic deal.
The question is whether that deal will be with the Mets. New York has both Diaz and Alonso entering free agency, ready to command hundreds of millions of dollars. To fork up the necessary money to bring both stars back, how much would the Mets front office be left with to fix the holes on their roster that led to their historic collapse in 2025? The starting rotation requires an overhaul, and the lineup has its own issues that need addressing as well.
Does New York put all their eggs in one basket and bring back both of their stars, leaving little money to retool their roster, or does it bring back just one of Diaz and Alonso, spending the extra money to plug the other holes on the roster? The offseason won’t have its shortage of anxiety for Mets fans, as they may lose at least one of their stars and hearts of the franchise.