The New York Mets have the difficult task of facing the man who set their all-time home run record a little more than a year ago. He also happens to be responsible for one of the most famous dingers in recent playoff history. That is not the type of player fans want to see in a different uniform. Beloved first baseman Pete Alonso will return to Citi Field for the first time since inking a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles last December, and with that big reunion comes endless evaluation and nitpicking.

Former Mets executive Sandy Alderson was running the front office when the organization selected the Polar Bear in the 2016 MLB Draft, so it is no surprise to hear how he feels about New York failing to re-sign Alonso.

“I was disappointed,” Alderson told Brian Kenny on MLB Now, one day after being inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. “Pete Alonso was drafted by Tommy Tanous, the scouting director at that time, in the second round. Basically a home-run hitter who got on base. And that's what he's been since he came to the big leagues. Let's say his defense is not…. superb. Poor defense doesn't outweigh the kind of homegrown, home-run, impact talent that Pete Alonso can provide.

“So, from my standpoint, if they let him go because of his defense, I think that was a mistake. If they let him go because they thought his power was going to diminish over time, okay, that's a guess.”

Former Mets GM Sandy Alderson talks about his reaction to when Pete Alonso signed with the Orioles:

"I was disappointed." pic.twitter.com/GzczDq49Bm

— MLB Now (@MLBNow) September 14, 2026

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Alderson believes the homegrown and entertainment factors should have incentivized the Mets to retain the 2025 Silver Slugger, five-time All-Star and two-time Home Run Derby champion. Beyond the emotional connection, Pete Alonso remains a highly effective and durable hitter.

The 31-year-old is slashing .269/.363/.499/.863 with 35 homers and an American League-leading 100 RBIs while playing in all 150 games this season. Although the Orioles (72-78) are currently four games out of the final Wild Card slot, New York (69-80) definitely could have used another dangerous bat in the lineup. And having another fan favorite on the roster would probably not hurt, either.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns comes from the Milwaukee Brewers, a franchise that sometimes values practicality over sentimentality. Money is not generally an issue for owner Steve Cohen, but when analyzing the contract in a vacuum, one can see the risk in committing long term to a slugger who will be in his mid-30s when his current deal expires. Sandy Alderson does not see things as black and white.

Pete Alonso forged a strong bond with the community and helped the ballclub return to relevance. His exit could loom large whenever another expensive homegrown talent hits free agency. What will the Mets decide next time, and will Stearns be the one who gets to decide it?

Those are important questions to ponder ahead of Monday's Orioles game. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET.