Mets Owner Cohen Explains That Team Could Thrive Without Alonso

NEW YORK — Until the ink dries on a Pete Alonso contract elsewhere, there will always be a chance he returns to the Mets. Owner Steve Cohen acknowledged that much during a panel discussion at the team’s Amazin’ Day fanfest event at Citi Field, sounding very much like a person convinced Alonso won’t be coming back.

“This has been an exhausting conversation in negotiations,” Cohen said, comparing the Alonso talks to the Juan Soto negotiation earlier this offseason. “Soto was tough. This is worse.

“A lot of it is, we’ve made a significant offer. I don’t like the structures that are presented back to us. I think it’s highly asymmetric against us, and I feel strongly about it.”

Earlier this week, significant rumors surfaced connecting Alonso to the Blue Jays. The Angels and Giants are among a group of other teams that have either reportedly or speculatively been linked to Alonso. And, of course, the Mets.

“I will never say no,” Cohen said. “There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward, and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. And that’s where we are.

“I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations. I don’t like what’s been presented to us. Listen, maybe that changes. Certainly, I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, I think we’ll have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have.”