It was brought to the attention of the Major League Baseball community, courtesy of USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, that general managers remain convinced that the New York Mets will make Pete Alonso and J.D. Martinez available in trade discussions. With the trade deadline set for July 30, just about every team has begun to think about what moves to make for themselves. That includes the Mets, who are currently starring at a 21-28 record nearing the end of May.
However, there are quite a few reasons why trading these two valuable players would come back to haunt them for the long term. Let’s get into the specific reasons for each player.
Why It’s a Huge Mistake For Mets to Trade Alonso And Martinez
Pete Alonso
Leadership
This is probably one of the most important characteristics you want in a player — leadership. Alonso has been with the Mets since 2019. For five and about less than a quarter seasons, this guy has demonstrated how to be a leader on a team. His influence on everyone, including the young players who’ve joined the team throughout his tenure, only increases his value as a player. In other words, he has become the latest face of the franchise.
If the Mets were to trade Alonso, they’re going to have to find someone else who has the potential of showing true leadership and maybe even being a team captain. Think about the David Wright days and how he became captain. Alonso has done just that. It’s a little odd that the Mets haven’t explicitly considered him a captain to this day, but that’s what he is in the fan’s hearts.
Home run power
Another important thing here is the power, especially when it comes to the long ball. Before this season began, Alonso had hit 192 home runs, which at the time had been tied with Howard Johnson. He has already passed Johnson now.
This reason to not trade him also goes hand-in-hand with the fact that every time he is either the tying or winning run at the plate in games, you know it’s a dangerous situation. That’s why if you watch the games you hear the announcers emphasize his power so much. He is capable of hitting a home run at any given moment, and that’s exactly what the Mets need.
His love for New York
Let’s not forget about Alonso’s love for the Big Apple. He has repeatedly said that he wants to be a Met. He also has expressed his gratitude toward the fans. How else did “LFGM” become a thing? Yes, that was from Alonso. If you’re the Mets and are aware of Alonso’s feelings, keep him!
J.D. Martinez
His reliability
As for Martinez, he was signed by the Mets late in spring training to help fill the void at the designated hitter position. So far, there is no questioning how reliable this guy is. His being a veteran helps tremendously. He isn’t afraid to swing the bat, which is why it might feel like he swings at every pitch. But you can also get a feeling that when he swings, good things are likely going to happen. He has stood by that statement in a few in-game situations, such as when he hit a home run to break up the no-hitter in a game against the Atlanta Braves a couple of weekends ago.
It could feel like déjà vu
Yes, the Mets shouldn’t have to go through the situation that happened last season with the fire sale they had close to the trade deadline. Not many people were pleased by it. Plus, that was also the same time that owner Steve Cohen said that one of the goals is to get the farm system ready for 2025. So, the point here is that if Martinez gets traded here, fans could easily think that the same thing happened again. If they signed Martinez right before the beginning of the season only to be traded later, why even sign him in the first place?
What is the likelihood of this situation happening?
Honestly, only time will tell whether or not Alonso and Martinez stay in New York. The Mets right now aren’t doing that well, so hopefully these two can help generate more offense and help the team win games. If they can do that, maybe chances are that a trade won’t happen after all. But, as we all know, anything is possible. However, if you’re David Stearns and you want to make a postseason run, you have to keep Alonso and Martinez!
This article first appeared on LWOSports.com and was syndicated with permission.
FAQs
By 1977, free agency had begun and contract negotiations between Mets' ownership and Seaver were not going well. Seaver wanted to renegotiate his contract to bring his salary in line with what other top pitchers were earning, but chairman of the board M.
Why did the Mets trade Amos Otis? ›
The Mets' refused several trade offers for Otis throughout the years but relented on Dec. 3, 1969, in order to address their longstanding issue at third base. The Royals sent Joe Foy to New York that day in exchange for Bob Johnson and Otis, a deal the Mets would regret for a decade.
Who wore 41 for the Mets? ›
The 1969 Miracle Mets shocked the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series for the their first championship. Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, who won 25 games for the '69 Mets, closed out his career with the Red Sox in 1986.
Did the Mets draft Pete Alonso? ›
Alonso played college baseball for the Florida Gators before the Mets selected him in the 2016 MLB draft.
How fast did Tom Seaver throw? ›
At his best, Seaver — whose compact delivery inevitably produced a signature dirt smear on the right knee of his uniform — threw a 98 mph fastball, and while he was often referred to as having a four-pitch arsenal that included his slider, curve, and changeup, he claimed to have numerous variants.
Did Tom Seaver throw a no hitter? ›
He had already accomplished just about everything a pitcher can in the major leagues, putting him well on his way to Cooperstown. A no-hitter, however, always seemed to elude Tom Seaver. But in 1978, the stars aligned for Tom Terrific.
Why did the Mets trade Nolan Ryan? ›
Ryan, who had helped the Mets capture the 1969 World Series while mostly operating in a bullpen role, had control issues that worried the team — he totaled 137 strikeouts and 116 walks in 152 innings the season before he was traded.
Did deGrom want to leave the Mets? ›
As it turns out, deGrom did in fact want to remain with the Mets, but the Texas Rangers came along and made him an offer he could not refuse at five-years, $185 million.
Why did the Giants trade Willie Mays to the Mets? ›
The Giants wanted to reduce payroll and Mays was one of the highest-paid players in baseball at $165,000, which made him expendable. After learning about the trade, Mays didn't want to play for the Mets and had plans to retire. However, Payson offered him a deal he couldn't refuse.
Who wore #1 for the Mets? ›
1: Mookie Wilson -- Many of the speediest Mets have worn No. 1, from Lance Johnson to Eric Young Jr. to Amed Rosario. But it's Wilson who enjoyed the most sustained success with it, donning No. 1 for the entire 1980s (with his famous dribbler through Bill Buckner's legs smack in the middle of that tenure).
The Mets won the series, four games to one, to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles team was considered to be one of the finest ever. The World Series win earned the team the sobriquet "The Miracle Mets". This was the first World Series of MLB's divisional era.
Who wore 7 for the Mets? ›
Players to have worn number 7 for the New York Mets include: Marcus Stroman (2019) Jose Reyes (2003-2018) Travis d'Arnaud (2015-2016)
Is Pete Alonso a good hitter? ›
Six percent of all batted balls fit those buckets; Alonso is in the 88th percentile across all batters with a 10% rate. You'll notice that those numbers aren't the 99th percentile. Alonso is really good at lifting the ball, but not the best. He's really good at hitting the ball hard, but not the best.
Why do they call Pete Alonso a polar bear? ›
Pete Alonso (born December 7, 1994, Tampa, Florida, U.S.) is a slugging first baseman for the New York Mets who holds the record for most home runs by a rookie (53) and who is also famous for his prodigious “moon shots.” He is called the “Polar Bear” for his big body, his power, and his fun-loving personality.
Who has the most home runs in 2024? ›
Why did Keith Hernandez get traded to the Mets? ›
Louis victory. Hernandez also contributed eight runs batted in during the seven-game World Series. After multiple disagreements with Cardinal management, most notably manager Whitey Herzog, Hernandez was traded to the Mets on June 15, 1983, for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.
What did the Mets get in the deGrom trade? ›
Baseball's Winter Meetings are underway, and player movement has lifted off in earnest. In the biggest pitching moves so far, the Texas Rangers have signed Jacob deGrom to a five-year, $185M contract, and the New York Mets replaced deGrom in their rotation by inking Justin Verlander to a two-year, $86.6M contract.
