Pete Alonso will go to the free agency
The Mets slugger exercises his exit clause after a frustrating season in Queens
The elimination of the New York Mets on the last day of the regular season brought with it a transcendental decision for the future of the franchise: Pete Alonso will not remain under contract. The first baseman opted to terminate the agreement that linked him to the Queens team and try his luck in free agency.
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Journalist Anthony DiComo confirmed the news on social media with a forceful message: "Pete Alonso says he will terminate his contract and return to free agency." The news was a hard blow for the organization, which failed to take advantage of the scenario that favored it to access the playoffs.
The situation could not have been more bitter. While the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Cincinnati Reds and paved the way for the Mets, the team managed by Carlos Mendoza only needed to beat the Miami Marlins. However, the New York offense fizzled out, and the loss knocked them out of the postseason.
A great individual campaign amid collective failure
Despite the team's disappointment, Alonso shone individually. He played all 162 games in the 2025 season and posted a .272/.347/.524 slash line with a .871 OPS. He had 170 hits, 41 doubles, one triple, 38 home runs, and 126 RBIs. He also scored 87 runs and drew 61 walks, resulting in a 3.5 WAR, one of his best records as a major leaguer.
His performance contrasted with the club's inconsistent performance. In 2024, the slugger had suffered his worst statistical year, with a high ground-ball rate (42%) and an OPS of .788. However, he redeemed himself in 2025, to the point of breaking the franchise's all-time home run record and earning his fifth All-Star selection.
After the loss in the final game of the season, Alonso addressed the fans with a message of gratitude: "I love playing here... Every day has been a pleasure to come to work and wear the orange and blue. I've valued it very much and I have nothing but gratitude. Nothing is guaranteed, but we'll see what happens. I've loved being a Met. I hope they valued me the same way."
The contract Alonso signed before 2025 allowed him to activate an exit clause after the first year. He still had one season left and $24 million to collect, but he decided to go public.