Mets President Addresses Letting Pete Alonso Leave in Free Agency After Last-Place Finish

New York Mets president David Stearns acknowledged on Monday that the decision to let star first baseman Pete Alonso depart in free agency—and the moves made at the position to replace him—didn't work out so well.

The 31-year-old Alonso had another fantastic season, hitting .267 with 43 homers, 113 RBI and a .884 OPS.

The Mets, meanwhile, got 18 homers, 77 RBI and a .667 OPS from the players they utilized at first base this season, primarily Jared Young and Mark Vientos. Meanwhile the splashy offseason additions like Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr., Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien and Freddy Peralta all disappointed.

Hindsight is 50-50, as Stearns well knows. But letting a beloved, multi-time All-Star walk in free agency is normally a bad decision.