The market for Pete Alonso is heating up after the Juan Soto Mets deal

DALLAS (AP) — Pete Alonso is meeting with teams to assess his market after the top free agent slugger was removed from the board last weekend.

Scott Boras declined to directly address his client Juan Soto’s historic 15-year, $765 million contract – the deal was still subject to completion on Wednesday – but acknowledged the domino effect in winter meetings the decision of the All-Star outfielder.

“Pete the Polar Bear Express has a lot of movement in the market,” Boras said. “Power is such a commodity in this game, and as we scan the market we see that the availability of power is a core lineup need for most teams.”

The 30-year-old Alonso finished his career with 34 points this year, a career-low for home runs in a full season, but remains one of the best power hitters on the market.

Earlier this week, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said the team was interested in re-signing Alonso.

Stearns was asked how difficult it was to approach such a decision dispassionately given Alonso was a popular core player in the team.

“We all have emotions,” Stearns said. “I have emotions, Steve (Cohen) has emotions. I think that’s one of the reasons we’re drawn to this game. While I’m making decisions, it’s also my job to step back a little and try to implement processes and systems within our organization that will allow us to make the best possible decision in the short and long term.”

The challenge is to find common ground for a contract.

“He’s open to meeting with a lot of teams and obviously he has,” Boras said. “Certainly his experience with the Mets was exceptional for both them and him.”

It’s clear to Boras that the Mets aren’t done with this offseason yet.

“(The Mets) have made it very clear to us that they are not limited to signing one great player, but multiple great players,” Boras said. “They will work continuously and intensively to attract the best players.”