A week ago, David Stearns and Steve Cohen sat down with Pete Alonso and his agent, Scott Boras, at a tony social club in Tampa. It was an “impressive” venue according to the Mets president of baseball operations,

The president of baseball operations indicated that the probability of a big add is quite low...at least for spring training. That means — most likely — no elite starting pitcher, no extra late-inning reliever,

There’s also the fact that the Mets shrewdly offered Alonso the qualifying offer. This made him less attractive to opposing teams because they’d lose a draft pick if they signed him. These negotiations and this prove-yourself contract could bring out the best in Alonso, who Stearns says is a “really motivated player right now.”