VLAD You Asked—Let’s Talk Pete

Let’s start with the obvious: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. just got paid enough to buy the autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark known as Greenland, or at least the entire Canadian province of Newfoundland, with change left over for poutine. Fourteen years, $500 million from the Blue Jays. That’s not a contract, that’s a national investment.

Meanwhile, Pete Alonso is sitting on a two-year, $54 million deal with an opt-out at season’s end. If this sounds like a garage sale compared to Vlad’s Fort Knox payday, well... it kind of is.

But let’s not lose the plot here.

Is Vlad a better all-around player? Sure. He’s younger. He hits for average, has Gold Glove potential, and makes Toronto fans feel all warm and fuzzy inside. But is he nine times better than Alonso?

The reason for the price gap comes down to timing, narrative, and desperation—three things that also describe most wedding proposals.

Toronto, fresh off a string of free-agent whiffs (Ohtani said "nah," Soto ghosted them), needed a big win. Guerrero, born into a Hall of Fame legacy and raised in the Jays system, gave them that. Locking him up was as much a PR move as a baseball one.

Pete’s timing? Not so sweet. He hit free agency after a down year, with a bunch of cheaper options clogging the first base carousel (Christian Walker, Josh Bell, Nathaniel Lowe, etc.). Add in Mets ownership already throwing Scrooge McDuck money at Juan Soto, and the market got chilly. Suddenly, Alonso was the guy standing in the corner at prom, wondering how he ended up without a dance partner.

Now that Vlad’s bag is packed with half a billion loonies, the first base market has a new high-water mark. Pete might not command $500M, but if he continues mashing this season like he’s off to—with a 1.066 OPS, three bombs, and every pitcher in the NL East sleeping with the light on—he’s going to have leverage. Real leverage. The kind you get when you hit 40 homers in your sleep and play through injuries like a hockey player with a baseball bat.

He said it himself: "Just have a good year." Simple. Honest. Very Pete.

The 2025-26 free-agent class could be wilder than a Waffle House at 2 a.m. You’ve got Alonso, Bregman, Bellinger, Bieber, Flaherty, and Pederson all with opt-outs or player options. It's a veritable All-Star team of guys looking for second chances—and second paydays.

Remember, Alonso’s already been through this once. So has Bregman. They both took shorter deals because the market was like an airport bagel—unappetizing and oddly cold.

This time? No qualifying offer hanging over his head. No Guerrero in the mix. And with a few teams desperate for middle-of-the-lineup power, the Polar Bear might find himself the belle of the ball.

Here’s the part that keeps me up at night—and not just because my bladder has the scheduling instincts of a rain delay.

Pete Alonso is a homegrown Met. That’s rarer than a Mets season without drama. He hits bombs, plays nearly every day, handles New York like he was born in a subway station, and genuinely wants to be here. So of course, this is where it gets complicated.

If Pete prices himself out of Queens, what’s the backup plan? Ryan Clifford? Good prospect, but he’s still figuring things out in Double-A. Not exactly ready to anchor a lineup. Could you slide Vientos to first and put Mauricio at third? Maybe—if Mauricio’s knee cooperates and you like creative chaos.

But if you let Pete walk, you’d better get creative with the power department. Here’s my thought: make a serious run at Luis Robert Jr. If healthy (big if), he and Mauricio could combine for 60+ homers and make up some of the thunder you’d lose by waving goodbye to Alonso. It's not perfect, but it's a contingency you can sell with a straight face.

If you’re reading this, then either you value my opinion or you clicked the wrong link while searching for vintage Kiner’s Korner clips—I think Pete Alonso should finish his career in a Mets uniform. Will the back end of a long-term deal look rough? Maybe. But sometimes you pay for what a guy means to your team, not just his WAR on a spreadsheet.

This isn’t just about stats. It’s about continuity. Identity. And a guy who can hit a 440-foot moonshot when your bullpen just blew a three-run lead. That has value. And in this town, that has serious value.

So, yeah. Vlad got his fortune. Good for him. Now it’s time for the Mets to decide what Pete Alonso is worth—to the team, to the fans, and to the legacy of a guy who’s been nothing but professional, powerful, and proud to wear orange and blue.

So what do you think? Should the Mets go all-in on Pete, or start planning for life after the Polar Bear? Am I overvaluing loyalty in a spreadsheet world, or is there still something to be said for a guy who’s hit more home runs in orange and blue than anyone not named Darryl or Dave? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—civil arguments, wild trade proposals, or just your best Pete puns welcome. Let’s hear it, Mets fans.