Mets' Pete Alonso linked with AL, NL clubs in latest trade predictions

The New York Mets won't sign All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso to a contract extension before Opening Day, so it's understandable Alonso's name continues to pop up in trade rumors as he remains set to hit free agency after the upcoming season. 

For an article published on Monday, David Schoenfield of ESPN predicted that the Mets will be "playing under .500 at the trade deadline" and, thus, will ship Alonso to the Seattle Mariners "for some prospects" this summer. 

Schoenfield added that Mets owner Steve Cohen and team president of baseball operations David Stearns will then "look" to re-sign Alonso during the fall. 

ESPN's Eric Karabell previously linked Alonso with the Mariners, as many believe the Mets will be out of playoff contention before July comes to an end. PECOTA projections shared by Baseball Prospectus as of Monday afternoon had the 2024 Mets at around 83.6 regular-season victories. 

Meanwhile, Jim Bowden of The Athletic said on Monday he thinks the Mets will trade Alonso to the Chicago Cubs before the July 30 trade deadline expires. The Cubs reportedly looked into acquiring Alonso as far back as this past fall, and they presumably can afford to sign him to the type of contract he and agent Scott Boras want from a club. 

Alonso seemingly won't give the Mets any type of "hometown discount" during or after this season. 

It's worth noting that not everybody began the final full week of March assuming the Mets will sell Alonso before the trade deadline. On Monday morning, SNY on-air talent and MLB writer Anthony McCarron predicted that the Mets "will be too close to contention for (a wild-card playoff) spot to risk trading Alonso and his home-run prowess" in July. 

"The thinking, of course, would be that the Mets could always re-sign Alonso next winter when he hits free agency, which feels like an inevitability now," McCarron said. "... It’s one thing to pump up the farm if it’s a lost year, but trading a star when you still have postseason hope is no way to treat your fans." 

For what it's worth, SNY is the television home of the Mets. 

On paper, Cohen can outbid every other MLB owner for Alonso's services. However, some think that Stearns will want to pursue All-Star New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto in free agency and not prioritize first base even though such an approach would mean a fan-favorite leaving the Mets this fall.