Will ‘Polar Bear’ end up leaving New York?

Tim Healy, a Mets reporter for New York’s local media “News Day,” cited sources on the 24th (Korea time) and said the Toronto Blue Jays are in serious contract discussions with first baseman Pete Alonso.

He added, “The breakup between Alonso and the Mets will be reliable only if we see it, but it’s closer to reality than we thought.”

Alonso has played for the New York Mets for the past six years. In 2019, his first year of debut, he rose to the top of the league with 53 home runs, and has since been recognized for his slugging power by drawing 226 arches in 846 games.

He entered the FA market with high expectations, but he is not getting the contract he expected. The possibility of renewing the contract with the original Mets has been steadily discussed, but the two sides have not reached an agreement.

Toronto is the team that came out as an alternative destination in the process. If Toronto recruits Alonso, it can use him at first base and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can turn his original position to third base.

Toronto reportedly expressed interest in starting Max Scherzer earlier. He expressed his willingness to strengthen his power.

Meanwhile, Ben Nicholson-Smith, a major league reporter for Canadian sports media SportsNet, said, “A competitive team will want Alonso and Scherzer. Toronto also likes these players, he said, but he has not gained any momentum now. It is not accurate information that the discussion is progressing,” he said, refuting the previous report.