Blue Jays strike out on Pete Alonso as Mets commit robbery

Another day, another top free agent choosing the Mets over the Blue Jays.

After months of flirtation between Pete Alonso and the Toronto Blue Jays, Alonso ended his free agency Wednesday by signing a two-year contract with the New York Mets, per multiple reports. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the contract is worth $54 million and includes an opt-out after the first year.

Alonso's signing comes a little less than two months after Juan Soto picked the Mets over the Blue Jays.

Per Passan, Alonso returning to the Mets was always the likeliest outcome even though the Blue Jays expressed interest.

Alonso has been linked to the Blue Jays for years, in large part due to his free agency lining up with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract. Guerrero is in his final year of arbitration and can become a free agent after the season. While they both play the same position, Guerrero has said that he'd be willing to move to third base if the team needed.

Alonso returning to the Mets caps off an offseason that's featured some moderate high and gravity-defying lows. While the Blue Jays signed Jeff Hoffman, Anthony Santander and Max Scherzer, they've also had their hearts broken by Soto, Roki Sasaki and Corbin Burnes, all of whom had Toronto as a finalist before going elsewhere.

While there's still a chance the Blue Jays could end up signing Alex Bregman, Alonso was the free agent who always seemed to make the most sense for Toronto. The 30-year-old has slugged 226 home runs in 846 career games, would immediately slot into the middle of the Blue Jays' lineup and could help them keep up in the American League East arms race.

Luckily for Toronto, Alonso spurning their overtures won't result in a ton of subsequent roster changes. Guerrero can stay at first base, and they can keep Ernie Clement (or some other internal option) at third base so long as they don't sign Bregman.

As for Alonso, this deal allows for him to run it back with the Mets while also having some flexibility to hit the market next winter if he chooses. While Alonso is getting less money than the seven-year, $158 million contract he reportedly turned down in 2023, he'll join an electric lineup that's added Soto to its mix.