Part 2/11:
The headline news is Pete Alonso—the franchise’s most reliable slugger and a symbol of the team’s homegrown identity—has signed with the Baltimore Orioles on a lucrative 5-year, $155 million deal. This is a blow felt across the fanbase, particularly because Alonso represented more than just a player; he was a connection to the Mets’ heart and soul. From his rookie of the year performance to smashing records, Alonso was, for many, the embodiment of what it meant to be a Met.