It was brought to the attention of the Major League Baseball community, courtesy of USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, that general managers remain convinced that the New York Mets will make Pete Alonso and J.D. Martinez available in trade discussions. With the trade deadline set for July 30, just about every team has begun to think about what moves to make for themselves. That includes the Mets, who are currently starring at a 21-28 record nearing the end of May.
However, there are quite a few reasons why trading these two valuable players would come back to haunt them for the long term. Let’s get into the specific reasons for each player.
Why It’s a Huge Mistake For Mets to Trade Alonso And Martinez
Pete Alonso
Leadership
This is probably one of the most important characteristics you want in a player — leadership. Alonso has been with the Mets since 2019. For five and about less than a quarter seasons, this guy has demonstrated how to be a leader on a team. His influence on everyone, including the young players who’ve joined the team throughout his tenure, only increases his value as a player. In other words, he has become the latest face of the franchise.
If the Mets were to trade Alonso, they’re going to have to find someone else who has the potential of showing true leadership and maybe even being a team captain. Think about the David Wright days and how he became captain. Alonso has done just that. It’s a little odd that the Mets haven’t explicitly considered him a captain to this day, but that’s what he is in the fan’s hearts.
Home run power
Another important thing here is the power, especially when it comes to the long ball. Before this season began, Alonso had hit 192 home runs, which at the time had been tied with Howard Johnson. He has already passed Johnson now.
This reason to not trade him also goes hand-in-hand with the fact that every time he is either the tying or winning run at the plate in games, you know it’s a dangerous situation. That’s why if you watch the games you hear the announcers emphasize his power so much. He is capable of hitting a home run at any given moment, and that’s exactly what the Mets need.
His love for New York
Let’s not forget about Alonso’s love for the Big Apple. He has repeatedly said that he wants to be a Met. He also has expressed his gratitude toward the fans. How else did “LFGM” become a thing? Yes, that was from Alonso. If you’re the Mets and are aware of Alonso’s feelings, keep him!
J.D. Martinez
His reliability
As for Martinez, he was signed by the Mets late in spring training to help fill the void at the designated hitter position. So far, there is no questioning how reliable this guy is. His being a veteran helps tremendously. He isn’t afraid to swing the bat, which is why it might feel like he swings at every pitch. But you can also get a feeling that when he swings, good things are likely going to happen. He has stood by that statement in a few in-game situations, such as when he hit a home run to break up the no-hitter in a game against the Atlanta Braves a couple of weekends ago.
It could feel like déjà vu
Yes, the Mets shouldn’t have to go through the situation that happened last season with the fire sale they had close to the trade deadline. Not many people were pleased by it. Plus, that was also the same time that owner Steve Cohen said that one of the goals is to get the farm system ready for 2025. So, the point here is that if Martinez gets traded here, fans could easily think that the same thing happened again. If they signed Martinez right before the beginning of the season only to be traded later, why even sign him in the first place?
What is the likelihood of this situation happening?
Honestly, only time will tell whether or not Alonso and Martinez stay in New York. The Mets right now aren’t doing that well, so hopefully these two can help generate more offense and help the team win games. If they can do that, maybe chances are that a trade won’t happen after all. But, as we all know, anything is possible. However, if you’re David Stearns and you want to make a postseason run, you have to keep Alonso and Martinez!
Main Image: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
