Alonso and Diaz: Right Move or Mistake?

by | Dec 11, 2025 | General

Photo Credit: instagram.com
It has been a very rough 48 hours for David Stearns and the New York Mets.

The departures of Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz have cast serious doubt among most Mets fans, as the team has gotten considerably worse in the offseason.

Alonso had a strong year for the Mets (37 HR, 125 RBI), while Edwin Diaz regained his throne as a top closer in the game (1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 28 SV).

Without both players, the team’s lineup looks very weak, while the bullpen takes a massive hit with Diaz’s departure and the uncertainty around Devin Williams.

Here’s my thoughts on both departures over the last few days:

Photo Credit: abc7.com

Edwin Diaz

Not re-signing Edwin Diaz and letting him go to the Dodgers is a move that will always spark debate regarding David Stearns.

Buying low on Devin Williams is a genius move from Stearns, as there is a very high chance that he bounces back after a puzzling season in the Bronx.

However, not extending Diaz to strengthen the bullpen and form a dominant 1-2 punch with Williams is a very questionable move.

First, the departure of Diaz means a departure from the trumpets played at Citi Field. He was beloved as a Met, especially as he built himself up after his nightmarish 2019 season.

Next, the bullpen is a big question mark and potential concern heading into the rest of the offseason.

The uncertainty of Williams remains, but there’s a good chance he looks more like the dominant reliever he was in Milwaukee.

Besides Williams, the team’s only high-leverage options are A.J Minter and Brooks Raley, which is a major problem.

Some options for Stearns to bolster the bullpen include Robert Suarez, Pete Fairbanks, Luke Weaver, Tyler Rogers, and Chris Martin.

Verdict: Mistake

Pete Alonso

On the other hand, Pete Alonso’s departure has caused outrage among Mets fans, especially due to the way the situation was handled.

Reports revealed that the Mets didn’t give Alonso a true offer to consider, which is pretty disrespectful and surprising, considering that he’s been such a huge part of the organization since his 2019 debut.

This shows that Alonso wasn’t a part of Stearns’ vision for the future, as he has repeatedly emphasized the need for more “run-prevention” following the 2025 season

Alonso’s bat was huge for the team, as he recorded 264 HR, 712 RBI, a .857 OPS, and a bunch of clutch moments in his Mets tenure.

However, Alonso’s age (31) and mediocre fielding make him a prime candidate to transition into a DH towards the end of his contract, and Stearns was understandably hesitant to commit to a deal longer than three years.

Honestly, this should’ve been a sign of things to come, especially after Alonso spent nearly the entire offseason as a free agent at the end of the 2024 season.

Ideally, the top priority to replace him would be Cody Bellinger, as he would provide Soto with protection, strengthen the lineup, and improve the defense at first base.

Verdict: Right move

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My name is John Pagnotta and I live in Queens, NY. I am a freshman at St. John’s University and I am majoring in journalism. I am a huge fan of the Jets, Mets, Islanders, and Knicks. I started following sports when I was around 7 years old and I have not lost love for it ever since!

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