Pete Alonso made his emotional return to Citi Field on Monday, facing his old team, the New York Mets, for the first time since signing that massive five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles back in December. This isn’t just a reunion game, folks, this is the first time the Mets faithful get to see the cornerstone they let walk, and believe me, it’s a look that stings for a lot of people in Queens.
The “Home” That Wasn’t Willing to Pay
Alonso wasn’t shy about his feelings on being back, telling reporters, “New York is always going to feel like some sort of homecoming. The city is really special.” He even chatted with Mets owner Steve Cohen before the game. You’d think for a guy who was drafted by the Mets in 2016, made his big league debut in 2019, and was the absolute core of the franchise for over half a decade, racking up five All-Star nods, NL Rookie of the Year, and All-MLB First Team honors in his rookie year, the Mets would fight to keep him, right? But here’s the kicker: the Mets *never* made Alonso an offer. The reason? The bids from other teams, like the $155 million from Baltimore, were reportedly “far above what New York was willing to pay” to keep their star first baseman. Talk about a cold business decision, even for baseball.
Baltimore’s Home, But This Season’s a Brutal One
Despite the Mets choosing not to pursue him in free agency, Alonso says he has no hard feelings against his former organization. “When you have something really, really good in front of you, for me especially, when it comes down to business negotiations, you don’t want to, I guess, kind of look elsewhere,” he explained. He clearly felt the love from the Orioles, stating, “For me, when Baltimore came, they obviously expressed some serious interest and for me, if they’re expressing themselves seriously, then I’m going to listen seriously. I feel like Baltimore’s home. I feel so at home and really just so genuinely happy where it’s like, I really see myself in a really good way with this organization. Hopefully, I get to finish my career here as an Oriole. I’m beyond blessed to be an Oriole.” And to be fair, he’s put together a strong first season for them, crushing 35 homers, driving in 100 RBI, and slashing an impressive .269/.363/.499. The dude can still rake! But here’s the gut punch for Alonso: his Orioles are sitting at the bottom of the AL East with a 72-78 record, and just like the Mets, they’re “unlikely to reach the postseason.” That’s gotta sting for a player of his caliber.
So, while Alonso may feel “at home” in Baltimore and harbor no resentment, you know he’s coming into Citi Field looking for more than just a warm welcome. He’ll be eyeing a series win against his old squad this week. Can he lead his struggling Orioles to take down the team that let him walk? That’s the real drama unfolding.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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