Mets owe it to Pete Alonso to sign slugger like J.D. Martinez or Jorge Soler

news j.d. martinez jorge soler mlb free agency pete alonso Bonus Code

I have a weird job. And this may be the weirdest part of it.

I am someone who knows more about the Nasty Boys than the Nasdaq, yet am once again here to advise one of Americas all-time great investors how to invest his money.

Steve Cohen, whos not only a billionaire but a decabillionaire, probably isnt waiting in his Greenwich, Conn., office for me to tell him how to spend. I understand, but am undeterred.

Several weeks back, I suggested Cohen surprise us and sign NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Josh Hader, the worlds best closer who isnt Edwin Diaz.

Well, that two-tiered yacht presumably has long since sailed.

Hader, much to the crosstown Yankees chagrin, is the new closer for the Astros. And Snell, while still searching for a job, isnt likely to join the Mets. While they checked in on him (they check in on everyone), new baseball president David Stearns seems done completing a solid and cost-efficient rotation.

The issue now is a hitter. The Mets need one. And cleanup hitter Pete Alonso deserves one in his walk year.

And guess what? Lo and behold, two bona fide middle-of-the-order hitters remain unemployed. And dont view J.D. Martinez and Jorge Soler as just two outstanding hitters but as two potential lineup protectors and maybe even a couple of potential bargains.

Teams often think alike, and these days everyone seems to prioritize outstanding starters, which may explain how Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a 5-foot-10 right-hander whos never thrown an MLB pitch, became the most coveted free-agent pitcher ever and eventually set a record with his $325 million Dodgers deal. (Even the Mets, who are mostly low-keying it this winter, offered $325 million.)

Meantime, teams are virtually ignoring some very accomplished hitters. Teoscar Hernandez had to sign a one-year deal. Not one hitter, except for the two-way great Shohei Ohtani, has signed for even $50 million this winter. (That will change once CodyBellinger and Matt Chapman find jobs.)

Mets_owe_it_to_Pete_Alonso_to_sign_slugger_like_J_D_Martinez_or_Jorge_Soler 3J.D. Martinez hit 33 home runs for the Dodgers last season. API understand why Cohen and Company arent going crazy again in free agency this winter. The so-called Steve Cohen tax isnt called that for nothing. The 110 percent rate over the biggest tax threshold was established with one man in mind yes, Cohen, whose estimated net worth of close to $20 billion by Forbes gave competitors considerable and understandable cause for concern.

As of today, Cohens Mets are mostly giving their own fans something between concern and agita. While I like the moves they made, the fan expectation of an annual billionaire-enhanced dynamo appears in jeopardy.

The fans deserve better. And so does Alonso, whos managed to hit more home runs than anyone since coming into the league.

Mets_owe_it_to_Pete_Alonso_to_sign_slugger_like_J_D_Martinez_or_Jorge_Soler 3Jorge Soler hit 36 home runs for the Marlins last season. APAlonso hit his usual 46 last year (45 is his average over 162 games) with a revolving door of No. 5-hitting hopefuls behind him. But his unsightly and uncharacteristic .217 batting average surely is the result of being pitched around.

The Mets have done right by holding on to their homegrown slugger, but the lack of a proven slugger to bat behind Alonso is a real weakness (and perhaps even a reason for Alonso to bolt as a free agent after the year).

As things stand, the Mets payroll still exceeds $300 million and is, in fact, only pennies behind that of the superteam Dodgers, who not only have Ohtani and Yamamoto but ample reason to believe they will be a World Series favorite for the foreseeable future. So, I get it. Cohens bills are high and so his expectations are lower, at least for 2024.

Mets_owe_it_to_Pete_Alonso_to_sign_slugger_like_J_D_Martinez_or_Jorge_Soler 3Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is entering his walk year. Jason Szenes for the NY PostBut theres still a chance to fulfill the promise of competitiveness. The rotation that looked almost empty to start the winter now appears deeper than the AL-favorite Yankees. The bullpen that looked even worse is still being constructed and may be OK upon completion.

The lineup? Well, that needs real help. And they shouldnt eschew the obvious.

Martinez is one of baseballs best and most consistent hitters. He batted cleanup for the National League in the All-Star Game last year, and theres no way the Dodgers would have replaced him if the greatest player in the world wasnt their forever goal. His 134 OPS+ in 2023 was exactly one point higher than his excellent career mark.

Keep up with the most important sports news

Thanks for signing up

Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Never miss a story.

Check out more newslettersSoler at his best is a one-man wrecking crew, someone who hit 48 homers playing home games at pitcher-friendly Kauffman Stadium and won the World Series MVP only a few years ago for the rival Braves. He actually out-homered Martinez last year (36 to 33) and his 28 fewer RBIs (103 to 75) may having something to do with being a Marlin and not a Dodger.

The Mets showed strong interest in Justin Turner, who just went to the Blue Jays, and would have made a lot of sense. But since theres no evidence they ever made an offer for Turner, who did well to get $13 million and surely had a lower price tag than either Martinez or Soler, who are aiming for multi-year deals, Im skeptical the Mets will make a concerted play for either hitter.

But after promising to compete this year, they owe it to their fans. Whats more, they owe it to Alonso.

How many decks are used in poker?

In most popular poker variants, such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha, a standard deck of 52 playing cards is used. Each deck contains four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) and consists of 13 ranks (Ace, 2 through 10, and the face cards: Jack, Queen, and King).

What is the bonus code for WPT Global Poker 2023?

The best bonus code for WPT Global is WPT777. By entering the bonus code, players will get a welcome bonus 100% up to $1,200 on the first deposit. The minimum deposit is $20.