Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Pete Alosno RE-SIGNS With The Mets! | INSTANT REACTION!

Episode Date: February 6, 2025

Use code TALKIN2025 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TALK.... Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountTrevor Plouffe and Talkin’ Jake break down what Pete Alonso back in New York means for The Mets, what his contract means and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and welcome to talking baseball. Pete Alonzo back to the Mets. Funky little contract, the Mets are back, baby. Let's talk ball. We're both hitters. We're both hitters. We're both hitters. Homers. Hello and welcome to talk in baseball.

Emergency up. I mean, 10.34 Eastern time for myself and Rob Seraco. Treves, 7.30 out there, but it's been a long day. It's been a long day I've been up a lot It's a long day Thank you everyone for joining us Everyone who's here live with us now

You guys are the absolute best Everyone listen to it after You are too We'll get you next time Pete Alonzo One of the last Two things to basically fall This off season

Goes back to the Mets But Trev I mean this is I'll go hand up first I thought he was going to get the big contract. I've said it so many times on this show. You can pencil them in for 35 homers.

Some GM will love that. Doesn't look like it. Slash with this first base market. And I think he wanted to go back to the Mets. He might have lost some negotiating power. You go, coach. Okay. I think I'll start on the Mets side.

I absolutely love it for the Mets. We were talking. I think Chris Rose asked the question, because he asked silly questions all the time. He said, who do you think besides the Dodgers has improved the most? And I can, obviously I know the Mets signed Juan Soto. And I know they brought back Shamaniah, brought back Jesse Winker. I liked all that.

I said the Cubs. I said, look, man, the Cubs went out and they traded for Kyle Tucker. They've done some things that I really like on that team. Now it's easily the Mets. It just, if you look at their lineup right now, this is what a contending team's lineup. looks like Francisco Lendor Juan Soto, Pete Alonzo to start it off. And then you have a bunch of guys behind them.

Who knows what Mark Vientos is going to really turn into? Brandon Nimmo's there. He's been doing his thing. I love the Jesse Winker fit on that team. We'll see kind of what playing time he's going to get. But the top three there, it just creates the sort of depth that you need, that scares teams that doesn't allow them to have a lane. It doesn't.

Like anybody that goes up against them, ask Devin Williams. What happened? Hey, hey. No, I mean, it's the truth. No need to ask him anything. Okay, just watch the video. How do you like the pinstrike? Maybe I'm just saying, this is a formidable lineup.

And without Pete, it was a good lineup. With Pete, this is a great lineup. And I keep going back to Steve Cohen, Uncle Steve. him and I have been doing the tango back and forth a little bit he was like in the game stop stuff right when he first bought the Mets and we're like okay what's going on with this guy I liked all the things that he said he's put his money where his mouth is he's kind of backtrack on that world series talk a little bit

but now he's he's pushing his chips forward $800 million to Juan Soto and you know what he said to Pete like he I think Joe said it perfectly on on his Twitter he said they played a game of chicken and Steve Cohen won. I think as soon as they went back to the Mets and said, here's a three-year deal.

We're offering it to you guys only. I said, all the leverage is gone. You know he wants to be back. And the first base market has been churning, whether it had been other guys like Christian Walker signing or trades happening. Teams have filled the holes. There wasn't a lot of holes out there.

The Minnesota Twins were the one team I could think of that could have used Pete. They weren't going to pay this type of money. So he ends up back here Essentially it's a one year 30 Right, it's an opt-out I think the second year is 24 Yep

But he's hoping it's a one year 30 And he reenters the market Don't know who's a free agent next year At the first base position But I think the Mets absolutely crushed it with this Yes Yes

I mean I think they've offered him more money previously But a lot more money Like you said It's two years. It's listed two years, 54 million, 30 million in the first year, 24 mil in the second year with the opt-out. Yeah, man, I've a win for the Mets and Cohen after giving out the Soto contract that had no limits. And if you're a Mets fan, there's so many angles. But if you're a Mets fan, kind of, you had this awesome fun run last year.

And everything feels change with the ownership. and all that. And now Soto, that's to change everything. That was the greater race. We are the new Mets. They brought back the best pieces of last year. Mania and his breakout. Jesse Winker, even right there.

Just like being that guy, like feeling like you're watching a 90s baseball team and he's the guy on that team that you hate, but that fan base loves him. And now Pete's back. Like, this was, this offseason was a dream for the Mets. it really was and so I think what people will point to I think and then we'll get into Pete's personal side I think after this but I think people will still point to the pitching staff here being like there's question marks yes but then you can counter that with saying there was question marks last year and they're doing great I don't think shamanai has a question mark anymore I think he really has made the right adjustment he's figured things out I think he can be the guy that he was in the second half I really do he has the body type it's you He can be one of those guys that is just different that you just don't see that arm angle a lot. And because of that, he's going to continue to be effective. Obviously, a full year of Kodi, can they tinker with Montas a little bit and see what they can get out of him?

Clay Holmes is, I kind of like like that deal, like almost the most. I want to see what's going to happen to him as a starter. They can play some D behind him. I think that's another point. Viento stay in a third base. Yep. at least for this year, because I know there was talks about him, possibly moving out to first base.

He's going to be a third base, which I like for him. Stay at a position, a premium position as long as possible. It's better war for you. When you hit like he hits, it just, it means more at the third base position than it does at the first base position. So I like it for him. It's, I'm stoked on this team, man. I'm stoked on the Mets for years, coach.

It was a little bit different last year. I think they got into this realm last year. They were, but before that, they were, we, we, we had things to laugh at.

I don't know if we were laughing at the Mets, but they gave us stuff. Yeah. And it was just kind of like year after year, we'd find things like, oh my gosh, like, that only happens with the Mets.

You can't say that anymore. Like they're running themselves, bringing in David Stearns, so player developments changing. They are running this like a first class organization. and it's a destination now. It's a place where people want to go play. It was not that a couple years ago.

So you've got the richest owner in baseball, a dude that's willing to invest and build, he's planning on building all around that stadium and making it super special, which is only going to add to the appeal, add to his pocketbooks so he can continue to spend. Like, if you're a Mets fan, you're in Jolly's.

What dream in it every night, I think. It's odd. I'm not sure. Look at Jolly's hair before he worked at this company and look at Jolly Olive's hair now. Trev freaking hair is great. You were the first guy that told me. You'd be like, I forget, we were talking about a young ball player and you were like, wait till they get a show haircut. And it's like, you know, that second year in, you're the perfect example.

That second year in, you start trying something, but that, actually gets you a little off. And then around that third, fourth year, some checks start clearing. And then you get the look. That's Jolly Olive in the Mets right now, bro. They're absolutely doing it. They're in the perfect spot. They have the right people in the front office.

They have the right owner. They have the right market. You know, New York's the market. There's no doubt about that. And now they have the squad. You can have all those things because they had them for a couple years. They had the play. They had Stearns.

they had Cohen, but now they have the squad. It took them a while to assemble, which you, in hindsight, you're like, yeah, obviously. You can't just freaking do it overnight. I think Steve Cohen thought he could do it overnight. I think he quickly realized you couldn't do that in this sport. But I'll tell you this much. This and what I think about this team, it happened very fast.

In the grand scheme of things, if you're taking time and looking at it, this happened very quickly. And I don't know, man. I'm just, I'm very excited. I think this is the perfect spot for Pete to land. I don't think Pete's super stoked. No. And that's,

so that's the other side of this that, and Trev, I've actually already spun myself into excitement because they're like hate dating each other for a year. Oh, you are so into that. That is your lane. Like, if Pete goes nuts this year, he knows that he has the own.

that'll pay the most money, right? If Pete goes out and has a 48 homer season, hey, Steve, you want to dance again or not? The prices. He's the Josh Donaldson quote. Hey, Billy, the price is up. I mean, and that Mets team still likes to have fun. Like, I wouldn't be surprised if Alonzo homers

and they start doing like a pay that man celebration or something. I don't know. That's the own, that's a wild card. part of this. But Pete wanted to be a Met, dude. That's all, that's what he wanted. He's probably going to come to grips with the fact that, okay, if I do have to leave next year, at least I got 30 mil and like, that's, that's a crazy big number. But he didn't want to leave. He didn't want to leave. And going back to your analogy of, is Pete's never going to turn into like the bad boy with the upper hand. So I don't, I like the analogy at first. It's not going to happen. What's the most

homers Pete said in the season? Didn't he hit 50? In my head it's 53. 51 I have in my head. His rookie year he hit 53. 2023, he hit 46. So if these new Mets are the Mets we're talking about... He is 50 homers.

Then what? You think Steve Cohen's, you're like, all right, Pete, I'll give you what you want. No, he's going to do the same old song and dance. I think... No way. Steve Cohen. And I'm going to just put this into a general category.

Steve Cumman's like the hot chick with all the leverage. And Pete's like, hey man, hey look over here. I got this cool job. I'm doing all this right. Don't you like me now? And yeah, but like Pete's like I got a lot of people to like me. I know Pete's not like, you know, the high school smoke, but he's like in the theater. He's got the lead role.

Like if he puts together. Oh, you don't think Pete's like the head athlete? He's a theater geek in your mind. I don't know where you're going with this one now. I was moving the goalpost on the equation there. I was trying to set Pete up in a good way, man. Pete, I like Pete. I'm not saying I don't like.

I'm saying Steve Cohen and him, this relationship, I don't think Pete's ever going to have the extra up the upper hand. But think about what you just said. The Mets are like the new. We got the deepest wallets. We're a new franchise. You think they'd have a first baseman hit 50 homers next year and then just walk away?

No. Pete, he'd hate it. He hit 34, drove in 88. This is rounded up to 90. Had the homer against Devin Williams to move him on in the playoffs. He's done plenty in his career. The third most homers ever as a met, and the guy's played there for six years. Like, he's done it.

He's been, he's been as much, let's just, let me glaze Pete a little bit here, because I don't want people to think that I don't like him. He's been everything that you want in a place. player for your team in New York. We talk about judge doing all the things right. Look, and he has. Tell me something that Pete hasn't done right. Just timing.

Timing? And he's taken... You guys share the same problem. He's taken a baby step back. Sure. That's why he didn't get paid because the front offices are like, well, there's a decline coming from P over 30. They've been talking about his body.

They've been like his body. body doesn't age well. Is it changed? She's been a polar bear the entire time. That's such BS. Don't body shame, Mets. We don't body shame here. Um, God, I, no, here's what I'm saying. The guy played 162 last year. Do not come at me with his body. I'm not. I'm saying this. Sick of that, Jay. I think it's a similar conversation that we had about Vladdy last year. Like, Vladdy was really good. And it was like, okay, if Vladdy has another 820 over. OPS season, he might not be who we thought he was going to be. Vladdy last year went out and went nuts.

So if Pete, Pete's had a similar tipping point, obviously a little later, but if Pete hits 45 again next year, he is back to being one of the premier sluggers of the game. He's got more. If Pete hits 31 next year, which again is an insane measure, but then he is really brought to a different area. So I don't know. It's tricky, and I'd love to know the other contracts that were offered to them. Were there other contracts offered to them?

I don't know. Line is going to go Frankie Soto, Pete? Yes. Nimmo. Do you know what Juan Soto's career OBP is? It's a joke. There's going to be a lot of guys on. He might drive in 140.

40 next year. This is what I'm saying. Still doesn't mean Steve Cullen's going to open up the pocket but you might say, hey, big fella, let's do that one year running back. I'll give you 40 this year. Mercenary. I don't know.

I'm stoked. I'm stoked for the Mets. I'm stoked for the NL East. It's going to be awesome to watch. This team was very, very close. Well, I don't think they were very close to taking the Dodgers down. I don't know if that's... Yeah.

They were close. And that's the big bad wolf. I went on live before you came down here. And I was talking and I said, you know, this team has improved the most since the Dodgers. And one of my buddies, shout out Coach Nick's barbecue. Give them a follow on Instagram. He goes, it doesn't matter.

He's a Dodger fan. He goes, it's not going to matter. All this for what? And in part, I'm like, yeah, I understand. 29 teams are saying that right now for what? They're looking at the Dodgers roster, DFA, Ryan Brazier, because they got Kirby Yates. Like that's, you know, they have a squad.

There's no doubt. But I said to Nick, I said, okay, when that five-game series comes around, let's see how confident you are. When the seven-game series comes around, let's see how come. Like, you know this team can beat the Dodgers in a five or seven-game series. Like, I won't say that about, you know, the nationals who we just did our TPP. Oh, it's a threat. National's.

Little foreshadowing. That damn it, Trev. I was so excited to do the Nats TPP, and they don't, they don't look great. They don't like great. But you tell me this team can't beat the Dodgers in a five or seven game set. You're crazy.

Of course they can. They can't. It's baseball. We see there's a series every year where the worst team goes, you know, or they have a six in one week. They're, this team is, this team, Oh, gosh, I don't want to do it. This team is guaranteed to make the playoffs, right?

Whoa. Are you serious? Baseball is a tricky sport. They're, okay, about as guaranteed as it gets. I think they're the new Mets, but I just, I'd love to see it clear. I'd love to see it clear for one year. My point is, okay. The reason I say that is,

teams that know they're going to be in the playoffs can operate a little bit differently during 162. So I think they will. And I think that's going to benefit them down the road. I think they're going to enter the playoffs in a better spot. Do you think they're done this year? You don't think Steve Cohen's going to open it up at the trade deadline, see what the needs are?

David Stern knows what's up. Yeah, I mean, at the deadline for sure. Um, no, the, did they sneak into the playoffs last year? I'm looking it up right now. Yes, dude. It was the debunk on the final day. They did that. 89 wins.

That's right. Yep. So that's where, again, that, that wasn't supposed to be Mets hating. I mean, it was a little bit just being like, you know, maybe I should take that back. They're guaranteed to be in. If, if the Mets, if the Mets had a very Mets year this year, then they're still the Mets. I didn't say that. I didn't say that.

Clip. but no it's just a really tough division dude who do you like more the Phillies or the Mets you know I'm a Phillies guy don't do that to me I um who do you like more the Braves or the Mets hold on I didn't answer the first one

there's a follow-up question okay I think I like the Phillies pitching better starting pitching sure I don't know about the bullpen I'd have to look at the bullpens I haven't really wrap my head around bullpens we're in freaking February 5th

right now. Okay, people, relax. That's the lineup wise. I think it might be the Mets. It's close. I'm pulling Phillies up right now. Because I just, I just, unless you got like, you're going somewhere or you want me to take this because. I'm just saying this. The Phillies and the Braves could be better teams than the Mets next year and it wouldn't

be insane. Those teams are, I got a Cooney starting somewhere. So, like, I'm putting him in the line. I like him a lot. I thought you were talking That's what I'm saying Frankie Lindor Juan Soto

Pete Alonso are the first three For the first three for the Phillies will be Leadoff Schwartz Swarber Somebody Harper Or is Harper 2nd Turner Harper

I like him both coach I can't you can't make me choose that I think I I lean Mets I think I still lean Mets Hey, Mets can be the right answer. It's just baseball. And I sometimes I hate that.

Like I hated that I just said, oh, in a five-game series, if anyone could win. Because that's not totally true. Like by the end of the year, the Dodgers team a couple years ago. Well, the teams in the playoffs. Everyone can win. Right. But like the Dodgers pitching ran out. What was that two years ago where Lance Lynn was getting diamond backed off the mound?

Like, the Mets are really good. That division is really good. The Braves, that was a down year for them, and they still won a ton of 89 baseball games. It is scary. Now that I started to think about it. So that's, because we had three teams last year from the NLEs make the playoffs.

Right. We did. Phillies, Atlanta, and New York. Obviously, you have to have a central team, wins the division, right? So let's just call three division winners, right? Yep. And then you know, oh, the Dodgers are one of those.

I feel like the Diamondbacks are going to be there. I was going to say the Padres are a lot, but they're not because they could sell at any given freaking time. Right. I don't know where we're going with this. I'm not backtracking. They're going to make the playoffs. The Mets are going to make the playoffs. I'm not backtracking.

The Mets are going to make the playoffs. But now I'm starting to think about who's not going to make the playoffs. But now I'm starting to think about who's not going to make the playoffs. There's going to be some fucking good teams in the national league don't make the playoffs. I think that's where my head's at around. Like, holy crap. There's going to be some really mediocre teams in the AL that make the playoffs. A little bit.

And like it's ignoring like what if two NL Central teams are good. Hey, whatever team is good next year. Go see him at Ckeek. Our partners, our friends. They're the best. They're the ones that let us do these live episodes. Rob, producer extraordinaire. Rob Sharako hits up sales extraordinaire. Jeremy, can we move the ad? Yep. That's all because

Sikh's the best. And code talking 2025. That's going to save you 10% off on Seekek. Make sure you download the app. If you've used one of their codes before, you can use this one again. Talking 2025, 10% off your next tickets at Seatgeek. They're the best. And you're going to go to a baseball game this year. So Treve, you've got that, you got that crazy. I got something, Pop. I just, you know, I I peruse baseball reference. We're looking stats up. But front page for me now I had this strapping young lad on the A's

and I clicked on his picture. Okay. Is Walt Weiss like a hunk? He was a hunk. So, Trev, God, this is tough for the Pete Alonzo episode because, you know, this time of night. I can't help what happens.

This time of night, my brain starts working better. Walt Weiss was the perfect athlete we saw when we were kids. and we were like, they kind of look like a dad. I don't think they're that athletic. Dude, Walt Weiss was a starting stud shortstop. Like, Walt Weiss was a baller. He's from Tuxedo New York.

Okay. Now we're just making things up. Hey, producer Rob brings up, and we mentioned this part briefly, but like, Alonzo turned down seven years of buck 58. Yeah, when was it? At the beginning of this year? 2023. 20.

Beginning of 20. Okay, last season. So, two seasons. I've talked about this a little bit because I think the insurance policy contracts are working out. And when I say that, I mean Matt Chapman, big year for belly. Snell did one like Chapman and Snell got paid. There's been a couple others that have been a little shakier, but they actually still have a chance. But that's a lot of money to miss out on it.

That's 100 mil. That's 100 mil. 22.5 is the AAV. I did that in my mind, not even with this Calgary that's right here. Yeah. It's a lot. Yes.

And you take chances like that, 100%. People take chances like that. We talk about all the time. It's like some of them work out and some of them don't work out. If Ronald Lacuna Jr. was never the player, but he took that $100 million, we'd be like, he's a smartest man alive. But because he's been an MVP and been a guy,

we're like, this is a really bad contract. You have to make decisions, dude. It's sometimes you bet on yourself and you lose. Sometimes you bet on yourself and you win. Yeah, that stings, bro. It really does. I remember talking to Chappi about that a little bit. Just like, man, like, turn down a lot of money.

And it does weigh on you. He still has time. Like, he's not just going to go away from baseball after this contract. Like, he's, if there's one thing I know about, Pete Alonzo, the dude's going to play until the wheels fall off. He is not going to just stop playing. There is no backup plan

for Pete Alonso, bro. That's not mean. No. It's more of like, it's more of like endearing to me. Like he's a big. And he is going to try to hit home runs until someone tells him you need to stop. Like you're absolutely, it's beautiful.

Like there might be a tough clip about 38 year old. Pete playing defense somewhere, but he's going to hit a homer 550 feet. So yeah, that is a beautiful thing. It is a beautiful thing. I don't know what else there is to add to this, Pop. I think main takeaways, let's just break a cliff notes for the people that like snooze through all this episode.

Like, who are these two handsome guys talking about? Right. Great for the Mets. Yes. Like, this is an incredible deal for them. Lineup is extraordinary. It's a full-on World Series contending

a lineup with depth. Love that. Go sign Jose Gleck. Why not? Right? Why not? Just paying as a coach, I don't know.

Like, have them around. Like, keep the vibe that you got going. Anyways, lineups, great. Steve Cohen won the game of chicken. Thank you, Joe's for that analogy. Pete's always trying to, woo the lady

and I don't think he's ever going to be able to truly get the lady I think he can woo the lady I don't think he can I think the lady will be like okay I see you down there but then as soon as Pete's like well you want to go on a date

but no no what are you know he's not the bad boy the lady wants the bad boy Juan Soto is the bad boy so like when it's free agency next year and, you know, Pete's, Pete got in the gym, he's looking good, but then there's this handsome Dominican guy

that's leaving Toronto. I don't know. I don't know. It's too late for this right now. It's too late for this. We had a long day. This is a one of our, what, six or seven show we did today?

We recorded. It's Wednesday. Oh my God. Yeah. We did four TPPs, the regular episode in this one. I guess what that. Who cares?

Let's do it. another one. Let's do it. Hey, Bregman. Let me text him right now. I'm text him. Wake up. Where's he go?

Houston? This is horrible news for Bregman, by the way. He was not going to the Mets? But he's. He's going to, well, you're talking about like the deal? I'm talking about the deal. No, he has offered. He already has standing offers out there.

Okay. Over 100 million. He's going to the Cubs or the Tigers. I think Dana Brown was like talking about him in the the past tense apparently. I saw that tweet out there. Bregman to the Tigers, I think you can book that. Yeah.

Am I going to win the free agency draft? No chance. Check it on that later. It has nothing to do with this episode. Thank you for tuning in, everybody. Yeah. You guys are the best. Thank you.

Can I also say something? We're the best. Hey, man. I suck. I got excited to talk about Pete Alonzo re-signing with the Mets. On my couch watching the spurs take down the hawks, boring. Oh, there's a lot of Lord of the Rings talk. I thought you were maybe perusing the two towers.

I might do that tonight. I'm going to peruse the one tower. Look at this. Ah, you got me.