It was not just the scoreboard that stung after Saturday’s loss. It was the absence of a name that’s been practically glued to the Mets’ lineup card. Pete Alonso, who had played in 353 consecutive games, was suddenly missing from Sunday’s starting nine. Manager Carlos Mendoza explained that Alonso is “day-to-day” with a right-hand contusion near the base of his thumb. And while X-rays came back negative, the decision to sideline him wasn’t taken lightly, especially with his durability being one of the few constants during the team’s rollercoaster season.

Mendoza added that Pete Alonso first felt the discomfort during his early at-bats on Saturday but pushed through the game. “Impact, I guess,” he said. “He got jammed a couple times, and it just got worse.” The slugger still managed to go 1-for-5 with a first-inning single in the 5–2 loss to the Reds. But in a smart move to avoid risking long-term damage, the Mets opted to sit him and monitor his progress. “He’s getting treatment, and he’s said he’s a lot better this morning,” Mendoza noted. 

It’s not just about protecting Alonso, it’s about protecting what’s left of the Mets’ offensive engine. Through 99 games, he’s batting .276 with 21 home runs and 77 RBIs. He served as a critical run producer for a team that’s struggled with consistency. With Mark Vientos filling in and fans holding their breath, the hope is that this is a short detour rather than a prolonged absence. Still, pulling one of your few healthy power bats mid-summer is never the kind of headline any front office wants.

And while Mendoza’s calm tone offered some assurance, there’s no denying the weight of Pete Alonso’s potential absence. In a season already packed with ups, downs, and trade deadline buzz, losing a key figure—even temporarily—feels like one more crack in the foundation. For now, the Mets are crossing fingers and counting treatments. All they hope is Alonso’s bat returns before the damage goes beyond the thumb.

But just when the Mets thought the injury bug was the worst thing they’d have to deal with, a past trade scenario came back to haunt them — and it centers around the same slugger now sidelined with a sore thumb.

Mets’ attempt to trade Pete Alonso for the Cubs’ rising star

In baseball, some trade talks are forgotten overnight. Others live rent-free in the minds of fans — and this one? It’s the latter. As Pete Alonso nurses a hand contusion, a resurfaced revelation from 2023 has Mets fans doing mental gymnastics. According to SNY insider Andy Martino, the Mets actually reached out to the Cubs in hopes of trading Alonso for Pete Crow-Armstrong. Yes, the same PCA who once belonged to New York. The Cubs’ answer? A swift and resounding “No.”

It was a shocking “what if” that never turned into a “what was.” And now, with Alonso’s contract status hanging in the air and PCA lighting it up at Wrigley, the regret is twofold. Alonso, despite injury setbacks, continues to be the Mets’ most consistent offensive force—21 homers, 77 RBIs, and yet another All-Star nod in 2025 prove that. But knowing the front office considered moving him, and for a player they once gave up, is a tough pill for fans to swallow. As if the injury wasn’t enough, this flashback feels like salt in the wound.

Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong’s recent breakout only rubs it in further. After injury delays and a slow start in Chicago, the 22-year-old has found his rhythm and just etched his name in Cubs history. And he holds no grudges against the Mets, saying he was simply “looking for anything good to happen” after the trade. His rising stock makes the non-deal all the more painful. The Mets tried to press undo on their 2021 deadline misfire. The baseball gods didn’t let it happen.

As Alonso’s future with New York grows cloudier, the front office’s decisions loom larger. It’s not just about who’s available now — it’s about who they tried to give up and who they couldn’t get back. And fans are watching every move.