Are Mets optimistic about re-signing Pete Alonso?

Speaking to reporters at the MLB general managers meetings in Las Vegas Tuesday, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns indicated the club has not closed the door on re-signing first baseman Pete Alonso in free agency.

On Wednesday night, MLB Insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post revealed that the two sides are in talks ahead of Thanksgiving.

What Mets think about Pete Alonso’s ongoing contract talks

“The Mets have begun discussions with Pete Alonso,” Heyman revealed, “and on the face of it, there appears to be a better feeling surrounding those talks this year than last year. The nice start to the talks could potentially bode well for the Mets’ chances of retaining Alonso.”

Interestingly, Heyman shared this update hours after agent Scott Boras hinted that Alonso could be open to a move to a more designated hitter role during his next contract. Statistics show that Alonso was often a defensive liability for the Mets last season, and reports from late September suggested that the Amazins would want the “Polar Bear” to often be a DH moving forward.

“Pete is all about winning at this point in his career,” Boras said Wednesday, per Mike Poema from the New York Post.

Stearns was later asked about Boras’ comments.