Free agent first baseman Pete Alonso remains unsigned as January hits its midway point, and the New York Mets are starting to explore other options at first base.

For free agents, spring training is something of a soft signing deadline. No one wants to be without a job when camp opens. Free agents want to know where they're playing, where they're going to live,

There were reasons to expect Alonso might follow them down this road. Alonso reportedly turned down an extension offer of seven years and $158MM back in the summer of 2023. He still had one arbitration season to go at that point,

All indications are that contract negotiations between the New York Mets and longtime slugger Pete Alonso are currently in the most crucial stages. Ever since

There are reportedly still ongoing conversations between the New York Mets and Pete Alonso, although the team is hoping for a relatively quick solution.

Signs point to the strong possibility of a New York Mets-Pete Alonso reunion, in part because the free-agent first baseman's market has not been especially strong. Speaking of which, SNY reports the following:  "According to league sources,

The Mets and Pete Alonso appear to be deadlocked in contract negotiations. There has been zero movement on either side since former Mets general manager Jim Duquette reported that Alonso’s camp reached out to the Mets with an offer to re-sign him last Friday.