The Baseball Winter Meetings are supposed to ignite enthusiasm in fan bases and reconstruct rosters so that teams can contend. For the New York Mets, however, these meetings have become a string of nightmares and broken dreams. This week the Mets lost another beloved star when Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles. That came days after longtime closer Edwin Díaz inked a deal with the Dodgers. Alonso was a homegrown Met and arguably the most cherished since David Wright. Fans had speculated for seasons that he might leave — but seeing him in a different shade of orange will still sting.
Under Steve Cohen’s ownership, New York was expected to emerge as a free-agent powerhouse; such losses were not supposed to happen. Yet after the historic contract awarded to Juan Soto, many sensed trouble loomed. Now Alonso joins one of baseball’s most potent lineups in Baltimore under a five-year, $155 million contract — the richest average annual value ever granted to a first baseman. He is 31 years old and just won his first Silver Slugger Award in 2025 after a season highlighted by 38 home runs, 126 RBIs, and strong offensive output.
Over seven major-league seasons—all with the Mets—Alonso slugged 264 home runs, including at least 34 in each of the past five years. He is a two-time Home Run Derby champion and received NL MVP consideration in several seasons. He even managed to play full seasons in both 2024 and 2025, showing durability alongside production.
For Mets fans, this offseason has become defined by upheaval and heartbreak. As the organization heads toward 2026, supporters cling to faint hopes that management has a plan to offset the losses. Until something materializes, Alonso’s departure will serve as the latest and sharpest reminder of how fragile success can be in New York.