Pete Alonsos renewed Mets motivation is more than contract drama

PORT ST.LUCIE — The Mets can expect a “motivated” Pete Alonso this season. David Stearns, the team’s president of baseball operations, used that description of the slugging first baseman Wednesday after Alonso’s two-year contract worth $54 million for a return to the Mets became official.

The deal includes an opt-out after this season. Left unsaid was the motivation Alonso will have to produce big numbers heading into another potential winter of free agency.Stearns cited a different reason Alonso will be motivated. “What he expressed to us is he wants to win a World Series as a Met,” Stearns said.

“He knows a big part of our ability to do that is him producing.I think Pete’s had good years the last couple of years, but not as good, not as elite, not at the standard that he set at the front end of his career.

And I think he is very motivated to demonstrate that it’s achievable throwing up those kind of numbers.” Alonso hit 34 homers and produced a .788 OPS last season, both of which were his career low for a full season.Alonso, who turned 30 in September, could benefit from hitting in a lineup that now includes Juan Soto, who will presumably hit ahead of him in the batting order. Stearns cast aside the notion that it was team owner Steve Cohen alone who wanted Alonso back in Queens. Cohen last week flew to Tampa to meet with Alonso for about three hours, with Stearns and agent Scott Boras part of the discussion, a day ahead of Alonso reaching agreement with the club on the new deal. Stearns said he wanted Alonso back. “He makes us a better team,” Stearns said.

“We’re in a spot where we feel like we’ve got a really good team.We’re trying to win as many games as possible.” Cohen, speaking at the team’s fan fest on Jan.

25, termed the negotiations between the club and Alonso’s camp “exhausting.” According to a source, the Mets’ initial offer was $85 million over three years that included heavy deferrals, loweri...