From New York Post · · 1m 20s
The Mets botched the part that mattered
Letting Pete Alonso go was defensible. Signing Jorge Polanco to replace him was not.
In brief
Letting Pete Alonso go was defensible. Signing Jorge Polanco to replace him was not. Losing a franchise slugger is survivable. Failing to replace him with a real everyday first baseman is not. Originally reported by New York Post.
Freeman was bigger in Atlanta
Freddie Freeman gave the Braves 12 seasons, an NL MVP, and a World Series ring. For a franchise dating to 1876, he ranks among the all-time greats.
“He is among the greatest players ever for a franchise that dates back to 1876.”
Alonso mattered less
As much as Mets fans loved him, Alonso never carried the weight in Queens that Freeman carried in Atlanta. Yet Atlanta still let its guy walk.
Same reason both times
Atlanta balked at the years Freeman wanted at age 32. The Mets balked at Alonso's contract length too. Two clubs, one identical fear.
Both exits got ugly
Freeman's negotiation ended in discord and heavy backlash for pushing out a popular, productive star. The Mets got their own version of that noise.
“There was discord in the end game of the negotiation and tons of backlash.”
Atlanta had a plan
The Braves traded for Matt Olson: durable, in his prime, and strong on both sides of the ball. The hole closed the day it opened.
The Mets had a question mark
New York signed Jorge Polanco, brittle, past his prime, and not a natural first baseman. That gap is still sitting there heading into 2027.
“a brittle, past-his-prime, not familiar with first base question mark”
The headline
Losing a franchise slugger is survivable. Failing to replace him with a real everyday first baseman is not.
