Expressing his love for New York City, the Mets and their fans, soon-to-be free agent slugger Pete Alonso wants to stay with the team as the July 30 trade deadline approaches.
“I’m very happy to be a part of the Mets and very proud to be a part of the Mets,” the four-time All-Star said Monday before losing in the first round of his fifth career Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. “And again, it’s just awesome. I want to stay with the team and I don’t want to get traded. I love it. This is home.”
Whether the resurgent Mets are buyers or sellers at the deadline and whether Alonso is traded will depend on how they play after the All-Star break. New York holds the third and final wild-card spot in the National League and has a 25-11 record since June 3.
The 29-year-old Alonso has been a key part of the Mets’ resurgence, recording 34 hits, six home runs, 20 runs scored and 21 RBIs during that time. This season, Alonso has appeared in 95 games, batting .240 with 51 RBIs and a team-leading 19 home runs.
“Right now, a lot of things can happen (before the trade deadline) and it’s their right what the front office and ownership decides to do,” said Alonso, the Mets’ lone All-Star, “but for me, it’s my job every day to do whatever I can to win games.”
The Mets addressed a need last week, acquiring veteran right-handed pitcher Phil Mutton from the Tampa Bay Rays to bolster their bullpen.
Alonso, a fan favorite, was the Mets’ second-round draft pick in 2016. He made his major league debut three years later, hitting 53 home runs, making the All-Star team, winning the Home Run Derby and being named the National League Rookie of the Year.
Alonso batted .250 with 211 home runs and 549 RBIs in 779 games in six seasons with New York.
“I love this organization,” he said, “I love this city, so I just want to do my best every night for the players in the clubhouse and for the fans.”
–Field Level Media
