Sean Manaea would love to see his workout buddy, Pete Alonso, back with the Mets, adding his name to the long list of those hoping for a reunion between the Polar Bear and his long-time team.
When asked about it during his virtual availability on Monday, Manaea said he would “very much so” want Alonso back anchoring the middle of the Mets’ lineup.
“Whatever happens with Pete, I’m always going to support him, but I would definitely love to have him back on the Mets and be our first baseman,” Manaea said. “Hopefully, we can get that done. But whatever happens at the end of the day, I’m going to be happy for him either way.”
Just hours before Manaea was re-introduced as a member of the team, a video was shared of him and Alonso working out together down in Tampa, FL — something the duo do every day.
Alonso has reportedly given the Mets an exclusive green light to offer him a three-year deal that includes opt-outs. When his free agency began this winter, he and his agent, Scott Boras, had been searching for considerably longer deals.
His market has ground to a halt, though. A down year did not help his prospects of resetting the market for free agents at his position with a $200 million contract. But the reality still exists that he will be back manning first base in Queens for at least the next few years.
Manaea’s comments come less than a week after Mets legend David Wright implored Alonso to consider the prospect of staying with the team that drafted him, taking the time to do so while discussing his upcoming jersey number retirement and induction into the team’s Hall of Fame on July 19.
“It’s a different feeling when you’re drafted, developed, and playing for the team that drafted you,” Wright said. “There’s more pride when you wear that jersey every night. I hope he doesn’t lose sight of that. That being said, I’ve never faulted a player for maximizing his earning potential and going to try to make a great living for him and his family. I can’t fault him for that.”
