Orioles feel vindicated after former All-Star buries Mets following Pete Alonso deal

For as great as it was to see the Baltimore Orioles finally reel in their big fish at the Winter Meetings and sign Pete Alonso, there are some questions with regard to how the deal will age. Entirely fair, and it would seem likely we ask those questions with more sincerity three or four years from now. But those questions pale in comparison to the conversations surrounding the New York Mets.

Beyond letting Alonso walk in free agency, the Mets also parted ways with fan-favorite Brandon Nimmo and weren't motivated to match Edwin Díaz's offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Toss in the reported drama between Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, and it might not be a surprise that Alonso wasted no time in accepting the Orioles' offer.

Of course, he had 155 million reasons to accept the offer. Nonetheless, while talking about the All-Star first baseman's departure from the Mets, former major leaguer Todd Frazier said the quiet part out loud during his hit on Foul Territory: Alonso grew tired of not being paid like one of the team's respected players, and is now looking to stick it to the Mets.

Pete Alonso's frustrations with the Mets could be what pushed him to the Orioles

It does feel like the Mets just expected Alonso to find his way back to them this offseason. The two sides have been doing this song and dance for multiple years before this offseason, and it has more times than not led to Alonso remaining in New York. Perhaps that is why the Mets weren't inclined to make an offer to their slugger right away. Whatever the reason, the Orioles pounced, signing Alonso to the lucrative long-term deal that had alluded him during his time with the Mets.

The hope is that the Mets aren't the ones getting the last laugh. The fear is that once Alonso's power diminishes, his contract will look like an albatross. Having said that, for the Orioles, it might beat the alternative where they went through another offseason of being the bridesmaid and not the bride.