Sometimes a number sticks in your head and refuses to leave. For the New York Mets, that number is 264. It’s the home run total Pete Alonso leaves behind as he steps back into free agency, a reminder of just how much thunder has lived in his bat and how complicated his value has become as he moves through his thirties. The Mets know the player better than anyone. They also know the market doesn’t always reward nostalgia.

A Familiar Free Agency, A Very Different Landscape

Alonso opting out of the final year of his two-year, 54 million dollar deal didn’t catch anyone off guard. The surprise is how quiet the path forward looks for a hitter who still ranks among the most intimidating sluggers in baseball. He and Scott Boras came into the winter dreaming of seven years, but the league has mad

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