Year of the Polar Bear

Morning Dose: Monday, April 7

☀️ Good Morning:

The 2025 Mets, built around Pete Alonso and pitching, just as everyone predicted during the winter!

David Stearns has somehow put together one of the most expensive rosters in the sport that somehow plays with the vibes of a small-market team. At least, so far.

Through nine games, this season has been a story about a homegrown star returning home after being humbled in the free-agent market; about a group of would-be-gone starters finding their way; about a bullpen of aging arms trying to prove they can make a late career.

The Amazins have the lowest ERA in baseball (by nearly a run!). They are 6-3 after sweeping the Blue Jays, only one game behind the Phillies, who took two out of three from the Dodgers over the weekend.

☕️ Grab your coffee for your morning dose of Mets Fix!

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Box Score | Full Standings

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🐻‍❄️ Year of the Polar Bear

Doesn’t this feel good?

Everyone wants Pete Alonso to earn a fair contract. It’s unfortunate how “fair” is defined for first basemen in the modern era. But just like the rest of us are slaves to the market (don’t look at it this morning), so are baseball players. Whatever your profession, you need to make the best of it by putting yourself and your family in the best possible situation to succeed.

For Alonso, that means playing first base for the New York Mets. The winter didn’t go the way he wanted it to go in terms of a long-term contract, but the fact it ended the way it did feels like a blessing.

It means we get the Alonso we have seen over the past two weeks. An Alonso who remains a hero to the fanbase and still has something to prove, instead of one wearing a funny new uniform because they were willing to pay him a little bit more, or one with added expectations to live up to a big deal in New York.

Instead of Scott Boras getting what he wanted, Alonso gets a yearlong love affair with Mets fans as he chases down the franchise record for home runs.

We learned in the wee hours of the morning that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is staying in Toronto on a 14-year, $500 million contract (with no deferrals). It turns out you can still get paid handsomely if you’re a 26-year-old first baseman.