Mets Pete Alonso, Nearing Free Agency, Reacts to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500M Blue Jays Contract Extension

Half a billion dollars—let that sink in. Even the most experienced slugger’s jaw will drop at that figure. And for Pete Alonso, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s record-breaking contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays isn’t just news; it’s a possible game-changer.

The baseball community is still humming after the Blue Jays locked down Vladimir Guerrero Jr., their cornerstone first baseman, with a historic $500 million, 14-year deal extension. This kind of agreement flips the market and causes waves across the league, particularly for players in comparable roles approaching free agency. And Pete Alonso finds himself precisely at that point.

Along with guaranteeing Guerrero’s future in Toronto, this historic contract establishes a new standard for first basemen all throughout the league. Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, personally approaching free agency, noticed. He shared his thoughts without hesitation on how the first basemen market has changed, “This is huge for first basemen,” Alonso remarked. “Half a billion dollars, it’s a huge, huge amount. For him, it’s a fantastic deal. It’s great for the first-base market, I think. I mean, 14 years — he’s a stud. Well deservedly so. Right now, you can’t think of the Toronto Blue Jays without Vlad Jr. He’s done some really amazing things in this league and for that team. Super well deserved.”

In 162 games in the 2024 MLB, he struck .240 with 34 home runs and 88 RBIs. Striking his 200th career home run against the St. Louis Cardinals, he became the fourth-fastest MLB player. In 13 postseason games, Alonso hit .273 with 4 home runs and 10 RBIs. Though Alonso’s record is good, his recent free agency revealed the difficulties right-handed, power-hitting first basemen face in obtaining long-term contracts. The Mets signed a two-year, $54 million contract with him, including a 2026 player option, providing flexibility for future talks.

Given Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s innovative $500 million contract and Pete Alonso’s proven power-hitting ability and approaching free agency. What degree of long-term financial commitment do you think the New York Mets—or another possible suitor—will be ready to make to guarantee Alonso’s services beyond the 2025 season?

How will Vladimir Guerrero’s deal affect Pete Alonso?

The financial scene for MLB first basemen has shifted with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract pact with the. This historic agreement creates a precedent for future negotiations for this position and acknowledges Guerrero’s importance. This extension ranks third among all MLB deals, following Juan Soto’s $765 million contract with the Mets and Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the Dodgers. ​​​​

Pete Alonso finds Guerrero’s unprecedented agreement vital. For Pete Alonso, one of baseball’s most consistent power hitters, the impact is both direct and deeply personal. While his two-year, $54 million deal with the Mets gives him a player opt-out after the 2025 season, Guerrero’s contract creates a new gold standard that Alonso—and his agents—can’t ignore.

Guerrero’s deal now gives Alonso leverage he didn’t have before. If the 2025 season plays out like the start has, where Alonso is already batting .290 with a 1.066 OPS, three home runs, and 11 RBIs, the “Polar Bear” could be in line for something far bigger than the $54 million short-term pact he signed this offseason. And Mets owner Steve Cohen seems aware of that momentum shift.

Cohen didn’t shy away from the topic. “We’re open,” Cohen said about extending Alonso. “You know, we’re excited about the ‘25 season, and listen: I hope Pete has a tremendous season. That would be great for the Mets, certainly great for him, and hopefully that means we can figure out a way to extend the arrangement.”

But Cohen also made it clear that the team isn’t rushing into anything just yet. “We’ll worry about it when we worry about it down the road. But right now, we’re focused on the ’25 season.”

That measured response isn’t surprising—after all, Alonso will be 31 in 2026, and long-term deals for power-hitting first basemen in their 30s come with risks. But Guerrero’s deal forces the Mets and every other team to reevaluate what elite production at first base is truly worth. While Matt Olson and Freddie Freeman previously topped the pay charts with deals averaging around $21–27 million a year, Guerrero’s $35.7 million annual average sets a new ceiling.

For Alonso, the message is clear: keep hitting, keep leading, and that big payday could be next. Whether it’s with the Mets or another big-market club looking to cash in on a reliable slugger, the market has changed—and Pete Alonso is right in the middle of it.