MLB Insider: Mets' Contract Offer That Pete Alonso Rejected Revealed amid Jays Rumors

As Pete Alonso continues his wait to find a home for the 2025 season and beyond, the New York Mets may find themselves strongly in the mix amid recent rumors about the Toronto Blue Jays looking at the four-time All-Star.

Per SNY's Andy Martino, the Mets' final offer to Alonso was for $70 million for three years that contained some deferred money:

"The final Mets offer that Alonso turned down—that's gonna be tough for him to beat with the Blue Jays. That could've been a real win probably in what the ultimate dollar figure would've looked like for Alonso. Given what the Blue Jays gave [Anthony] Santander—it was in the 60s after the deferred money—they're probably not gonna get as good an offer from Toronto as they've already gotten from the Mets, and turned down from the Mets."

Joel Sherman and Dan Martin first reported on Jan. 16 the Mets' made a "last-ditch effort" to sign Alonso, but they pivoted away from him when that offer was rejected. The team announced the following day they signed Jesse Winker to a one-year, $8 million contract.

There's still the ability for the Mets to shuffle their lineup if they were able to coax Alonso back to Queens on a team-friendly deal. Mark Vientos is likely set to start the season at first base, with Brett Baty at third. Vientos could shift back to the hot corner for Alonso to play first.

Mets owner Steve Cohen didn't sound optimistic about a reunion with Alonso when speaking to fans at the team's fanfest event on Saturday.

The Blue Jays have been trying to entice Alonso to make Canada his home. Robert Murray of FanSided noted on Jan. 23 they were still showing interest in the 30-year-old slugger.

Murray's report came out after Toronto officially signed Anthony Santander, so there seems to be some money still floating around for the organization to use.

Alonso's market has been very limited, at least publicly, so far this offseason. He seems almost certain at this point to end up with a shorter-term contract than he was expecting in November.

Some of the lukewarm response to Alonso as a free agent is understandable. He's likely to end up as a DH-only player sooner than later given his defensive issues at first base. His on-base percentage has been sub-.330 in each of the past two seasons.

One thing Alonso does that makes him extremely valuable is his ability to hit for power. He has hit at least 34 homers in five of his first six seasons. The only time he didn't was in 2020 when he finished with 16 in the season that was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The only player with more homers since 2019 than Alonso's 226 is Aaron Judge (232).