Scott Boras’ marquee New York free agents have trended in different directions.
Yankees right fielder Juan Soto and Mets first baseman Pete Alonso are set to become free agents after this season — in case you missed it — and both remain set for large paydays.
But, at the approximate halfway point of the season heading into the All-Star break, how much has their stock gone up or down this season?
Soto’s early Yankees days were a dreamlike. Through his first 69 games, Soto hit .319/.433/.591 with a 1.023 OPS, 17 home runs and 54 RBIs. The Yankees owned a stellar 50-22 record to that point.
But the Yankees’ recent regression has coincided with a relative rough patch for Soto.
The Yankees own a paltry 6-16 record in their past 22 games after Wednesday night’s sigh-of-relief 2-1 win over the Rays. In that span, Soto has hit .200/.411/.386 with a .796 OPS, four home runs and nine RBIs.
He’s also dealt with minor injuries to his forearm and hand.
But in totality, Soto likely only has made himself richer. Overall, he’s hitting .293/.428/.546 with a .974 OPS, 21 homers and 63 RBIs. His on-base percentage is the best in MLB.
Still just 25 years old (he turns 26 in October), it’s fair to expect Soto to become the highest-paid hitter in MLB — and even make a run at Shohei Ohtani’s record of $460.8 million for luxury-tax purposes. That notably would include superstar teammate Aaron Judge if he were to return to The Bronx.
Soto’s brilliance was certainly not a secret, but he’s met — and perhaps even surpassed — most of the sky-high expectations set for him.
Alonso, on the other hand, isn’t doing his wallet many favors.
Though he surprisingly earned the Mets’ lone All-Star bid, Alonso’s stock has seemingly gone down.
After going 2-for-4 in Wednesday’s win over the Nationals, he is hitting .240/.320/.454 with a .774 OPS, 18 home runs and 48 RBIs. That slugging percentage and OPS would be the lowest of his career – by at least 35 points.
Alonso was drafted by the Mets in the second round in 2016 and has played the entirety of his six big league seasons in Queens. Now 29, have the Mets already seen the best of him?
A major decision looms for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. If he doesn’t plan on extending Alonso a large contract offer this offseason, will he trade him before this month’s deadline? After owner Steve Cohen publicly committed to a postseason push, trading Alonso would be a hard sell to fans.
Or could Alonso’s struggles help lower his cost to a point the Mets are comfortable with? Or could the Mets — who are hovering around .500 at 46-45 — trade him this month and then bring him back in free agency?
Regardless, this hasn’t been the walk year Alonso envisioned before finally hitting the open market.
Both Soto and Alonso will present riveting sweepstakes with ample suitors. And they still have half the season to make their cases.