MLB Insider Drops Bold Comment Regarding Juan Soto Following 5x All-Star Pete Alonso’s Departure from NY Mets

Pete Alonso‘s chapter with the New York Mets has officially come to an end. On Wednesday, reports emerged of his massive 5-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, bringing an end to his tenure as a Mets star. Following his exit, an MLB insider dropped a bold comment on Juan Soto and his huge deal.

A year ago, Soto penned down the biggest deal in MLB history when he agreed to join the Mets on a 15-year, $765 million deal. Later in that offseason, the Mets would bring back Alonso on a 2-year, $54 million deal after he had become a free agent.

Alonso’s deal did feature an opt-out clause after the 2025 season. The campaign turned out to be a disappointing one in the end for the Mets as they crashed out in the second half and missed the playoffs on the final day, finishing with an 83-79 record.

Following this, Alonso would opt-out of his deal and become a free agent. Despite the team’s struggles, he did have a good time at the plate. The “Polar Bear” batted with a .272 average and hit 41 doubles, 38 home runs and had 126 RBIs from 162 games.

With him now gone, the Mets have a massive dent in their offense lineup. According to MLB insider Ron Darling, if the Mets do not sign a hitter to replace Alonso, the team will struggle as teams would most likely walk Juan Soto.

You’ve now paid, unless you get a bat, Juan Soto to walk 150 times a year.

Ron Darling said regarding Pete Alonso’s exit on MLB Network

Ron Darling on the loss of Pete Alonso:

“You’ve now paid, unless you get a bat, Juan Soto to walk 150 times a year.”
pic.twitter.com/0vE6oKTy8s

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) December 10, 2025

While Soto also had impressive numbers, batting with a .263 average, hitting 43 home runs and 105 RBIs, there were times when he struggled, too. Soto batted second in the lineup, behind Francisco Lindor and ahead of Pete Alonso.

If the Mets do not acquire another top hitter to replace Alonso, teams could simply bat around Soto and navigate through the middle and bottom of the lineup.

Darling later expressed that the past few days have been hard on the Mets fans. Just a day before, the team lost 3-time All-Star closer Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Diaz, who had also opted out of his deal, signed with the two-time defending champions on a 3-year, $69 million deal.

Before this, the team lost another veteran in Brandon Nimmo. The outfielder would waive his no-trade clause and was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien.

Mets Hall of Famer left “speechless” by team decision to allow Pete Alonso and others to walk out of the team

In the past two days, the New York Mets fans suffered two major blows. After losing Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team then lost their home run leader, Pete Alonso. A Mets Hall of Famer was left “speechless” by the team’s decision to let Alonso and the others walk out and break the core.

While speaking with Eamon McAnaney on SportsNite, Keith Hernandez expressed that he had not seen this kind of movement from the team.

I’m a little bit speechless. This is very explosive. In the years that I’ve been with the Mets, I have not seen this kind of moving in a new direction, I guess. It is definite, it is profound.

Keith Hernandez said regarding the departure of Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso.

"I'm a little bit speechless. This is very explosive. In the years that I've been with the Mets, I have not seen this kind of moving in a new direction, I guess. It is profound."

Keith Hernandez joins @emacSNY on SportsNite to discuss Pete Alonso signing a five-year deal with… pic.twitter.com/LImX1uRRfx

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 11, 2025

Following their massive collapse this year, General Manager David Stearns did claim that the team needed to get better at run prevention. Hernandez, who works as a broadcaster for the Mets, expressed that the team’s new direction will focus more on pitching and defense.

The team has been linked with veteran infielder Paul Goldschmidt as a replacement for Alonso. Goldschmidt, who won the NL MVP in 2022 while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, is a free agent, having spent the 2024 season with the New York Yankees.

Mets owner Steve Cohen sends reassuring message to fans following loss of Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz

In the space of two days, the New York Mets lost two of their core players as Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso got signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles, respectively, through free agency. Following their loss, team owner Steve Cohen sent a reassuring message to the fans.

Both Alonso and Diaz had left a huge mark on the fanbase. While they were unable to guide the team to a championship title, their individual performances made them fan favorites. With both of them gone, the team’s core has been shaken up.

Following the deal of Alonso, Cohen sent out a text to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. In the message, the Mets owner expressed that there was still a lot of time in the offseason for the team to build a strong team.

I totally understand the fans’ reaction. There is lots of offseason left to put a playoff team on the field.

Steve Cohen said after Pete Alonso’s departure to Jon Heyman

Steve Cohen still has his sights set on fielding a playoff-caliber roster pic.twitter.com/C6BFquyrXQ

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 11, 2025

Cohen, Stearns and the others do have a huge task in front of them now. Only time will tell what moves they will make in the future to replace some of the top names.

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