The Mets made what they perceived as a last-ditch effort to sign Pete Alonso and when that was rejected began their pivot away from their slugging first baseman, The Post has learned.

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,

Approximately eight teams are involved in the market for Pete Alonso, writes Jon Heyman of the New York Post. However, Heyman suggests that most of those clubs are interested in a shorter-term, opt-out laden deal with the star slugger.

While the sides appear amenable to a short-term structure, one question remains: Can they bridge the gap in finances to keep Pete Alonso in Flushing?

With spring training a month away, reports indicate the New York Mets want slugging first baseman Pete Alonso to agree to a new contract or they will move on.

The Mets are believed to have moved on from negotiations with Pete Alonso — for now After the Mets signed outfielder Jesse Winker for $7.5 million, the consensus seemed to be that the team had begun executing Plan B.

It feels like a Mets team hoping to build on last year will be incomplete without Pete Alonso at first. But David Stearns can’t be swayed by that.