Keith Hernandez has some advice for David Stearns: Sign Pete Alonso.
“It’s very important,” Hernández said of Alonso’s contract extension. “If you look at his record now, he has quite a body of work. It’s not just a comet, a shooting star that will go out. He is incredible, his power is great.
Hernandez spoke Thursday at the MLB Flagship Store in Manhattan as Rawlings honored Gold Glove winners past and present.
“I’ve always referred to him, almost from year one, when he hit over 50 home runs — he is, to me, the second coming of Harmon Killebrew,” Hernandez said. “[He’s a] big power hitter, and you can’t find them. You must sign it.
Alonso has one year left on his contract and his status with the Mets is one of the team’s pressing issues this offseason.
Trading Alonso would be a prudent move if the Mets don’t plan to extend him, but Stearns, the team’s new president of baseball operations, said he expects Alonso to man first base when the Mets will open the 2024 season.
Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, said the first baseman was open to an extension in lieu of free agency.
Pete Alonso has one year left on his contract.JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
If Alonso stays, he could challenge Hernandez for the title of greatest Mets first baseman.
Hernandez, an SNY analyst, is a big fan of Alonso and has expressed his displeasure with rumors that Alonso is not a good presence at the club.
“I don’t know where that came from,” Hernández said. “Pete is a good teammate. …Whoever started this, I thought it was very, very petty.
If Alonso remains a Met, he will play for first manager Carlos Mendoza. Hernández said he was “surprised” by this hiring but does not know Mendoza.
Keith Hernandez hopes Mets extend Pete Alonso.for NY POST
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, who also attended the event after winning his first Gold Glove, said the Mets’ new skipper would be “amazing.”
“He is the best. We will certainly miss him. They have an amazing guy,” Volpe said. “From day one, he took me in, took me under his wing and kind of showed me the ropes. And for me, it was huge. … He was so great bouncing off ideas and then, for the ups and downs, he was always there, ready to work and everything like that. … [It’s] It’s going to be fun to compete with him.
2023-11-10 05:52:07
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