PORT ST. LUCIE — Darryl Strawberry can’t perceive why the participant who broke his Mets all-time house run document left Queens.
Pete Alonso, in keeping with Strawberry, goes to “remorse” that he departed the Mets.
“I used to be actually shocked that Pete would go away New York for Baltimore,” Strawberry mentioned Monday at spring coaching. “Pete might have damaged all of the data and will have been on high of each offensive class for this group after which typically whenever you don’t see that and notice how essential that’s, someday he’s going to get up identical to I did and remorse you didn’t stick the place you’re at.”
Strawberry, who left the Mets by means of free company to affix the Dodgers after the 1990 season, mentioned Alonso — who acquired a five-year contract price $155 million from the Orioles — ought to have by no means opted out from his contract after final season. Alonso would have acquired $24 million this season from the Mets if he didn’t decide out.
After his opt-out, Alonso by no means acquired a proposal from the Mets. In accordance with sources, the group was anticipating him to circle again after exploring the market, however the size of the Orioles’ supply made it a moot level.
“The most important mistake I noticed was after they misplaced in Miami he opted out,” Strawberry mentioned, referring to the Mets’ last recreation final season. “I believe if he simply waited and mentioned, ‘OK, I’ll keep at that, however give me a four-year deal, one thing like that, they might have labored it out.’”
Strawberry was requested if the Mets ought to have fought tougher to maintain Alonso.
“I believe it’s a mixture,” Strawberry mentioned. “I believe they each might have fought tougher in that scenario.”
Alonso final season eclipsed Strawberry’s earlier franchise document of 252 homers. Like Strawberry, he was a homegrown Mets participant.
“He labored his means as much as turn out to be the participant that he was,” Strawberry mentioned. “He deserved all of the credit score for that and what he achieved. I simply don’t depart New York to go to Baltimore. Don’t get me incorrect, I’m not getting on Baltimore. However I’m saying, that is New York, come on. Baltimore is an efficient place, nevertheless it’s not New York.”
