BALTIMORE — The stick of dynamite that was affixed to the Mets core this winter did not blindside Pete Alonso.
The Orioles were among the first teams to reach out during his free agency, and momentum began building toward a long-awaited megadeal in a spot Alonso called “a match made in heaven.” The Mets had shown little interest (and never ended up extending an offer), a fact that became relevant when Brandon Nimmo reached out to Alonso in November.
Nimmo was in limbo, David Stearns telling the lifelong Met that a trade with the Rangers would be completed if Nimmo waived his no-trade clause. Seeking advice, Nimmo called a longtime friend and another longtime face of the Mets.
During the conversation, Nimmo told Alonso, “I really want to be teammates with you.”