Part 2/8:
Primarily, the trade of Edwin Diaz to the Dodgers underscored a clear message: the Mets were committed to a specific rebuilding or strategic approach with guardrails around contract lengths and player development. Diaz's departure signaled that the organization was not inclined to hand out long, expensive deals to older players, especially those entering their 30s—something Alonso's contract demands seemingly conflicted with.
Todd pointed out that Alonso's potential move was foreshadowed by interest from other teams, like the Baltimore Orioles, especially with Scott Boras, Alonso’s agent, advocating for a lengthy, lucrative deal. Although painful for fans emotionally, Todd argued from a business standpoint, Alonso’s departure was understandable.