The latest details on the rumored plans for the New York Mets to trade Pete Alonso are shocking

MLB Rumors: The latest details on the rumored plans for the New York Mets to trade Pete Alonso are shocking.

Alonso remains on the market, and the longer this saga goes on, the less likely it is that he finds another team willing to shell out the sort of nine-figure contract he expected at the start of the offseason. But that confidence appears to have gone to the Mets' heads just a bit; playing hardball is all well and good, but the more New York twists the screws, the more obvious it is that they probably aren't quite as willing to walk away as they've made it seem.

Alonso is still available, and the longer this drama drags on, the less probable it is that he will find another team that is prepared to pay him the kind of nine-figure contract he had in mind at the beginning of the offseason. However, it seems that the Mets have lost some of that confidence; although playing hardball is fine, it becomes increasingly clear that they are probably not as eager to walk away as they have made it appear.

These dynamics are understood by Mets authorities. A future in which Mark Vientos or another player takes first base and in which the Mets won't be paying for Alonso as he reaches his mid-30s is another reason they're willing to play hardball.

However, that "alternative" isn't nearly as appealing as it appears, with Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado no longer on the table and a deal including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. little more than a pipe dream.

The longer this goes on, the more probable it is that the New York Mets will have an Alonso-shaped hole in their lineup going into the 2025 season, which will probably cost them in an arms race with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets don't really have a response for that.

New York faces another year of the Brett Baty Experience at the hot corner if it shifts Vientos to first. The greatest option at first base, however, would be the recently re-signed Jesse Winker, who stated in his reintroduction press conference on Wednesday that he and the team had talked about the idea of his shifting to the infield if Vientos is kept at third.

No disrespect to Winker, who was an integral part of New York's magical run to the NLCS last season, but this clip should be all the leverage that Alonso and Boras need. Winker is a great bench bat, perfect playing two or three times a week as part of a platoon wherever he's needed. Rolling him out on a daily basis at first base, though, is a recipe for disaster, one that will drastically limit this lineup's ceiling in 2025.

There isn't much pressure on New York to return to the table unless a team like the San Francisco Giants or Toronto Blue Jays steps up in a big way, so the Mets can rattle their sabers at Alonso all they want. However, despite what the club may try to convince you, the truth is that Alonso needs New York in 2025 just as much as New York needs Alonso.