Mets first baseman Pedro Alonso made it very clear on Monday afternoon: he does not want to be traded anywhere.
“I would love to stay and I don’t want to be traded,” Alonso said during his All-Star Game media availability on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. “I love [New York]. Is at home.”
With the Mets three games over .500 and currently owning the third Wild Card spot, any notion of the Mets being sellers at the July 30 trade deadline is probably moot at this point. New York is just a half-game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second Wild Card, and 4.0 games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place.
But with Alonso’s contract expiring at the end of the season, trade speculation followed him throughout the year, and even into the All-Star festivities.
As he has done in the past, Alonso has made it clear that New York is where he wants to be.
“I love New York. I love the Mets. I love being in Queens,” the first baseman said. “It really is such a special place. Some of my best, not just baseball memories, but life memories, were in New York. I think it’s been almost nine, 10 years, and for me as the fans, the organization has given me embraced it from day one, not just in the big leagues when I went through, but since when I was in the minor leagues as well, it’s been incredible.
“So not only have I had great baseball experiences — I’ve had the best baseball experiences of my life — but I grew up in New York. Almost all of my 20s I’ve been in New York, since I was 21 and now I’m 29. It’s been an experience fantastic and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Again, I’m super happy to be a Met, super proud to be a Met, and it’s been amazing.
Alonso enters Monday night’s Home Run Derby with a .240/.319/.454 slash line to go along with 19 home runs and 51 RBI. He is currently just 41 home runs behind Darryl Strawberry for the Mets’ all-time record, and if he stays in a Mets uniform, he will likely surpass that mark next season.
And while the 29-year-old admits anything can happen if teams arrive on time, he reiterated his love for the only professional organization he has ever known.
“Right now, a lot can happen, and whatever the board and ownership decide to do, that’s their prerogative,” Alonso said. “But for me, my job is to do everything I can to help win games every day. I love this organization, I love this city, so I just want to do the best I can every night for the guys in the club. and the fans.”
