Carroll’s Column: The Polar Bear Returns To Queens

[IMPORTANT: Make this 4 times longer with much more detail]

Sports Carroll’s Column: The Polar Bear Returns To Queens by Lloyd Carroll February 10, 2025 Pete Alonso is back in Queens, signing a two-year deal with the Mets with an opt out after 2025 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports NEW YORK, NY — The Pete Alonso free agency saga, which took a toll on the baseball industry over the last two or so months with several rumors, finally came to an end last week… Most Mets fans were happy to learn last Wednesday evening that the free agent first baseman Alonso had agreed to return to the Mets on a two-year deal which will pay him $20 million this season, and $24 million in 2026. It should be noted Alonso has an option to become a free agent after the 2025 season. Jesse Winker and Pete Alonso during 2024 NLCS at Citi Field – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports The Alonso contract impasse lasted far longer than anyone anticipated. When I spoke with his agent, Scott Boras, at the Juan Soto introductory press conference at Citi Field, he told me he expected to have a deal done with the Mets shortly. Boras’s optimism was understandable. The Mets had just hammered out a fifteen-year, $765 million contract with his star client, Juan Soto. Boras figured a five-year contract in the $150-$160 million neighborhood would be a drop in the bucket for Mets owner Steve Cohen, who is the wealthiest owner in baseball. Scott Boras, the biggest agent in all of Major League Baseball, represents Soto, Alonso, and many more stars across the game – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports Unfortunately for Boras, the marketplace for first basemen was not robust. Therefore, that kind of long-term contract would be out of the question. Christian Walker signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Astros, while accomplished veteran Paul Goldschmidt signed a one-year, #12 million contract with the Yankees. Pete Alonso is four years younger than Walker, and seven years junior to Goldschmidt, but the media and baseball team analytics folks were obsessed with the fact he had turned thirty. The age bias issue seems a bit ridiculous. Pete Alonso may have been a commercial pitchman for Citi Cards, Car Shield, and BMW, but it is not as if he will be doing ads for the AARP any time soon. He still has many productive playing years ahead of him. Pete Alonso hit 34 home runs in 2024 and has recorded 226 in his career – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports It is rare for a team’s fans to have influence over a contract negotiation, but that would appear to be the case this time. During the Mets’ January 25 Amazin’ Day fan festival, fans were loudly chanting “We want Pete!” as a panel with Steve Cohen and team president of baseball operations David Stearns was starting. Cohen expressed his frustrations with the changing contractual stipulations he was getting from Boras. He emphasized he was not closing the door to Pete rejoining the Mets. Reports were surfacing that the Toronto Blue Jays had offered him a three-year contract, but Alonso was reluctant to sign it. Steve Cohen during the Mets’ 2024 NLDS clinching celebration at Citi Field – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports Both sides realized they were playing against the calendar which was turning closer to the start of spring training. The consensus was that while the Mets had improved their lineup, they were still a bat or two short compared with the offense of division rivals, the Braves, and the Phillies. Cohen and Stearns must have concurred. Deciding the best way to move forward was to meet face to face. Cohen and Stearns flew to Tampa and met with Alonso and Boras. A deal was eventually struck. David Stearns and the Mets continue to work this offseason on improving the team through free agency spending and trades – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports Both Mets fans and Pete Alonso know he is only twenty six (26) home runs away from tying Darryl Strawberry’s record as the team’s all-time home run leader. All baseball players are aware of legacies, so that had to be considered in his desire to return to the Mets. The short-term contract Alonso signed means the odds are he will not play his entire career in a Mets uniform. Mets fans will have to accept that reality. He is certain to get his number 20 hung from the roof of Citi Field when he retires from the game. Pete Alonso and Sean Manaea working out together in clinic for Tampa Bayshore Little League Besides his home run power, the reason Mets fans were enthusiastic about his return is because he is a good guy. Last month, he, and Mets pitcher Sean Manaea, took part in a clinic for Tampa’s Bayshore Little League, many of whose players were impacted by hurricanes which swept through western Florida during the past fall. Sean Manaea and Pete Alonso took part in a clinic last month for Tampa’s Bayshore Little League – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports The event was sponsored by the Players Trust, the charitable wing of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Former Yankee and Met Harrison Bader signs one-year deal with Twins Speaking of very likable players, centerfielder, and Westchester native Harrison Bader, who did an excellent job for the Mets with his glove, and occasionally his bat, signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. His days were numbered when the Mets acquired Jose Siri in a trade with the Blue Jays. Bader always made himself accessible to reporters. Newest Minnesota Twin Harrison Bader spent time as a Yankee and Met in the last three seasons – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports He was also unafraid to show his Jewish pride, as he wore a Star of David on both his belt, and sometimes on his spikes. No Hall of Fame Honors for Eli Manning in his first year of eligibility I was surprised that former Giants QB Eli Manning, who has a pair of Super Bowl rings at the expense of Tom Brady, was not inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025. It was his first year of eligibility. My guess is the voters wanted to get more attention for both themselves, and the Canton, Ohio museum. Eli will eventually get his gold jacket. Ben Simmons bought out by Nets, signs with LA Clippers Former Daily News sportswriter, and now a contributor to the Mets cable home SNY, John Harper is a fan of the Brooklyn Nets. Ben Simmons recently agreed to buyout with the Nets, and signed with LA Clippers – Image Credit: NBA During Friday’s Sportsnite, host Niki Lattarulo asked him his thoughts on the Nets buying out the contract of frequently injured and always poor shooting guard, Ben Simmons. “I will drive Ben to the airport to make sure he leaves town!” Harper replied with a laugh. Watch “Keep It in The Ring” on Youtube with Rich Mancusco If you are a fan of ring combat sports, you should watch “Keep It in The Ring” on YouTube. It is hosted by my longtime press box colleague, Rich Mancuso, who is an expert on boxing, mixed martial arts, and the lighter side of ring sports, professional wrestling. Veteran WFAN listeners will remember his wrestling segments with Jody McDonald. Even though they aired in the middle of the night, they had a devoted following. New “Keep It in The Ring” episodes air Thursdays at 9PM. Did this year’s Super Bowl Commercials meet your expectations? This year’s Super Bowl commercials lived up to billing. My favorites were Vin Diesel poking fun at his “Fast & The Furious” Dom Toretto character for Haagen-Dazs; Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara spoofing the pickleball craze for Michelob Ultra; Matthew McConaughey channeling his inner Mike Ditka, Vince Lombardi, and others for Uber Eats; and Gordon Ramsay and Pete Davidson spoofing their well-known personas for Hexclad cookware. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans – Image Credit: NFL Although it did not air during “The Big Game,” Jeeter, a cannabis rolling paper and lifestyle brand, brought in two NFL legends, Ricky Williams and Calvin Johnson, for a humorous social media ad made in conjunction with the National Lampoon. “The 90’s Boy Band Boom” The CW’s two-hour documentary, “‘The 90s Boy Band Boom,” which aired Saturday night did a respectable job harkening back to the days when All-4-One, 98 Degrees, NSYNC, and the Backstreet Boys dominated the pop charts. While it was great hearing behind-the-scenes tales from AJ McLean and Chris Kirkpatrick from the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, respectively, I was disappointed that the late Flushing native, Lou Pearlman, who put all these bands together and shaped their sound, was barely mentioned. You can catch The 90’s Boy Band Boom on The CW Network – Image Credit: IMDb Yes, Pearlman was seedy and was successfully sued by most of his artists. And yes, he wound up spending time in prison for fraud. To ignore him, however, detracted from the credibility of this documentary. Amber Ruffin to be the emcee at the April 26 White House Correspondents Association dinner Amber Ruffin, who is a writer and occasional performer on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” as well as being a co-star on CNN’s humorous Saturday night “Have I Got News for You,” which returns from hiatus this Saturday, will be the emcee at the April 26 White House Correspondents Association dinner. It is to be determined whether the pride of Jamaica Estates, President Donald Trump, will attend. NY NOW at Javits Center The semi-annual artisan show, NY NOW, took place last week at Javits Center. There were numerous fledgling businesses displaying their wares. A Houston company, Sunnies Shades, makes sunglasses for children. A Toronto-based enterprise, Everyday Yiddish, makes greetings cards, notepads, and other stationery, with popular expressions as “mazel tov,” “mensch,” and “oy vey,” as well as celebrating other aspects of Jewish culture. You can read more of Lloyd Carroll’s columns posted weekly on The Queens Chronicle. Related Topics 90’s Boy Band Boom Amber Ruffin Ben Simmons Brooklyn Nets Chiefs David Stearns Eagles Eli Manning Harrison Bader Javits Center Juan Soto Keep It In The Ring Mets Minnesota Twins MLB Free Agency MLB Offseason National Basketball Association National Football League NBA Nets New York City New York Giants New York Mets NFL NY NOW Pete Alonso Rich Mancusco Scott Boras Sean Manaea Steve Cohen Super Bowl Super Bowl LIX The CW Network Tom Brady Twins Youtube Click to comment Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Email * Website Advertisement Facebook Latest Article Baseball / 2 weeks ago ESPN platforms to broadcast inaugural ‘Puerto Rico Challenge,’ A New College Baseball Series For Elite DI Teams UConn, Michigan, Missouri, Penn State, Rice, Stetson, Villanova, and UVA will Play in Ponce… By Latino Sports Sports / 5 hours ago Carroll’s Column: The Polar Bear Returns To Queens NEW YORK, NY — The Pete Alonso free agency saga, which took a toll… By Lloyd Carroll Baseball / 10 hours ago 35TH ANNUAL LATINO MVP AWARDS – 2024 OFFICIAL BALLOT ANNOUNCED BRONX, NY (February 10th, 2025) — It has been thirty five (35) years since… By Press Release Baseball / 12 hours ago Letters from the Beyond: From Juan Manuel Ley to His Brother Álvaro – Cartas desde el Más Allá: De Juan Manuel Ley para Su Hermano Álvaro My dear brother: No one is more proud than me at this moment, when… By Juan Vené Baseball / 2 days ago Spring Training Begins Today, Games On Feb. 20 – Hoy Comienza Spring Training, Juegos el 20 Nobody Thought It WasNecessary, But Cap Anson Arrived Coral Gables, Florida (VIP-WIRE) – Today,… By Juan Vené More in Sports 35TH ANNUAL LATINO MVP AWARDS – 2024 OFFICIAL BALLOT ANNOUNCED BRONX, NY (February 10th, 2025) — It has been thirty five (35) years since… Letters from the Beyond: From Juan Manuel Ley to His Brother Álvaro – Cartas desde el Más Allá: De Juan Manuel Ley para Su Hermano Álvaro My dear brother: No one is more proud than me at this moment, when… Spring Training Begins Today, Games On Feb. 20 – Hoy Comienza Spring Training, Juegos el 20 Nobody Thought It WasNecessary, But Cap Anson Arrived Coral Gables, Florida (VIP-WIRE) – Today,… St. John’s Back On The Map: Red Storm Takes Down UConn NEW YORK, NY — St. John’s is officially back on the map. This week,… Letters from the Beyond: From Juan Manuel Ley to His Brother Álvaro – Cartas desde el Más Allá: De Juan Manuel Ley para Su Hermano Álvaro