Mets' Steve Cohen on Pete Alonso's Upcoming MLB Free Agency: 'We Want to Keep Him'

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen expressed the team's interest in retaining All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso beyond the 2024 season.

"We want to keep him," Cohen said, per Hunter Patterson and Will Sammon of The Athletic. "He's an important part of our team today and hopefully in the future."

Alonso has spent all five years of his career in New York, although he's currently set to hit free agency following his 2024 campaign after he agreed to a one-year deal worth $20.5 million on Jan. 11 to avoid arbitration.

An extension isn't completely out of the question, although it doesn't seem likely. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told reporters on Feb. 12 that Alonso heading to free agency is the "most likely outcome," according to SNY's Danny Abriano.

The 29-year-old potentially becoming a free agent doesn't mean that he won't remain with the organization, as Cohen noted that New York has underwent similar scenarios with other members of the team.

"We're always open to conversation, but he's earned the right to explore his value," said Cohen (per Patterson and Sammon). "I'm highly supportive of all players doing that. Just like we ended up figuring it out with [closer] Edwin Díaz and [outfielder] Brandon Nimmo, it would be my hope that we do the same with Pete."

The Mets allowed both Díaz and Nimmo to play out the final year of their contracts during the 2022 season before re-signing both of them in free agency to long-term deals for five and eight years, respectively.

However, the slugger will likely have several interested suitors on the open market which could make a return to the Mets difficult. Alonso has hit at least 40 home runs and knocked in at least 115 RBIs in three of his five MLB seasons, posting a career .251/.342/.528 slash line. His 192 homers since 2019 leads all players in the majors over that time frame.