The New York Mets, after a long free agency, signed Pete Alonso to a two-year, $54 million deal. Alonso’s deal has a player option for next season. If early goings are any indication, Alonso will opt out and seek a bigger deal on the open market.

He is leading all of baseball in RBI. He leads the National League in doubles and on-base percentage. Most surprising is his .328 batting average to go along with his nine home runs. AthlonSports’ Jon Conahan suggested Alonso could land with the Philadelphia Phillies in free agency.

“Alonso, who is expected to opt out and make more than the two-year, $54 million deal he signed with the Mets during the offseason, could be a target for the Phillies,” Conahan wrote.

Signing Alonso would mean moving Harper back to the outfield or making Alonso a full-time designated hitter. The Phillies could lose Kyle Schwarber in free agency and might view Alonso as their replacement.

“Depending on the type of contract that Alonso would sign, it might make more sense to bring back Schwarber, depending on what he gets,” wrote Conahan. “However, to say that Alonso isn’t a better player at this stage of his career, especially being only 30 years old, would be unfair.”

Spotrac projects Alonso to get a six-year, $186 million deal. The Mets can afford him, but it will not be easy for them. They have committed $765 million dollars to Juan Soto for, presumably, the rest of his career. Additionally, they may still be unwilling to commit to an aging slugger like Alonso for a long-term deal.

The Phillies’ signing Alonso would be a new wrinkle in the rivalry between the two franchises. Alonso could torment the Mets for years to come if he were to land with the Phillies.

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