Steve Cohen: Pete Alonso, Mets Haven't Had Contract Talks Ahead of Looming MLB FA

Ahead of the start of the MLB season, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen said he doesn't expect to sign first baseman Pete Alonso before the end of the season.

Alonso, 29, is set to play out the final year of his contract in 2024, which features a salary of $20.5 million. Despite Alonso's looming free agency, Cohen said the best approach is to wait until after the season.

"We haven't had any discussion and I think at this point, for Pete, it's best for him to go and have a great year and not be distracted," Cohen said. "I think it's best for the ball club."

Cohen has experience signing players to long-term deals in free agency. He signed closer Edwin Diaz to a five-year, $102 million deal in November 2022 before signing outfielder Brandon Nimmo to an eight-year, $162 million contract one month later.

"We know how to do this," Cohen said. "We did it with Edwin. We did it with Brandon after the season, and so we'll figure it out when we get there."

Alonso hit at a .217 average and had 123 hits, 46 home runs and 118 RBI in 2023. His home runs were good for the third-most across the majors and he had the second-most RBI. The 2019 NL Rookie of the Year has spent his entire career in New York, and Cohen is hoping to keep him around for longer.

Last fall, Alonso hired a new agent, Scott Boras, who typically pushes clients to exercise their free-agent rights to maximize value. Cohen reportedly believes that he has a good standing with Boras that will play well as he tries to re-sign Alonso.