MLB Insider: New York Mets May Have to Wait Until Free Agency to Sign This Star

This MLB insider thinks the New York Mets might have to wait until free agency to sign this star player.

It doesn't sound like there's any traction on a new deal at this point in time.

According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, there does not appear to be any momentum on an extension between Pete Alonso and the New York Mets, which means the team's best hope of locking him up long-term could be in free agency after next season.

Heyman believes Alonso will get a contract that exceeds Freddie Freeman's $162 million because the Mets slugger is coming off his third 40-plus home run campaign in his first five seasons.

Alonso also hired super agent Scott Boras to represent him, and Boras' clients are known for testing the waters in free agency.

That being said, Brandon Nimmo and Max Scherzer are Boras clients and have negotiated lucrative deals with the Mets over the past two years, so there is some hope for Alonso.

Alonso has drawn trade interest from the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, and there will likely be other teams calling on his availability this winter.

However, new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said he expects Alonso to be the team's Opening Day first baseman in 2024, which makes an offseason trade seem unlikely.

In the very least, it appears that Alonso will be with the Mets for one more season. But there is still a realistic chance that he is signed long-term given he is a franchise cornerstone player and has a chance to be one of, if not the greatest Met of all-time. If and when he is signed to an extension, it might not come until he hits free agency following 2024.