Alonso, Mets avoid arbitration with $14.5M, 1-year deal

Updated Jan. 13, 2023 9:59 p.m. ET

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso agreed Friday on a $14.5 million contract with the New York Mets for next season to avoid salary arbitration.

The slugging first baseman nearly doubled his $7.4 million salary from 2022, when he tied for the major league lead with 131 RBIs and finished eighth in NL MVP balloting. He batted .271 with 40 home runs and an .869 OPS in 160 games.

The two-time All-Star and 2019 NL Rookie of the Year can become a free agent following the 2024 season.

Six other Mets players are eligible for arbitration: All-Star second baseman Jeff McNeil, catcher Tomás Nido, reliever Drew Smith, infielder Luis Guillorme and right-handers Jeff Brigham and Elieser Hernández.

Friday was the deadline for arbitration-eligible players to swap proposed salaries with their teams.

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