⚾️ Mets At Turning Point, But Alonso Not At Fault

Mets players and coaches called a claim that Pete Alonso is toxic 'ridiculous'. [View in browser]( In today’s FOX Sports Insider with guest writer Deesha Thosar: Pete Alonso could be on the move this offseason, but contrary to reports, he is not toxic … After no trade materialized, where do the Colts and Jonathan Taylor go from here? … and more! NEW YORK — If the Mets trade Pete Alonso — this offseason or before next year's deadline — there's only one reason why. It's not because Alonso, whose contract expires after next season, doesn't fit into the team's future plans. It's not because the Mets want him gone. It's especially not because he's toxic. The only reason the Mets would trade their homegrown superstar is because of money. "Of course trade rumors are going to pop up," Alonso told FOX Sports on Tuesday. "But from a front office standpoint, [Mets general manager] Billy [Eppler] has to do his job and he has to focus on the team. My job is to play the best I can for the team. Obviously, I'm a piece to the puzzle and I'm a part of the machine. But he's gotta do his job, and I gotta do mine. He has to answer the phone. It's not personal." Now, you might think money is no object for the Amazins — not since Steve Cohen took the keys to the kingdom. But even Cohen has shown he has a line he's not willing to cross. That much was clear when Jacob deGrom received a bigger offer from Texas, and the Mets were unwilling to go as high as five years, $180 million for their aging, oft-injured ace. Mets staffers familiar with Cohen's thinking don't expect negotiations with Alonso to be handled much differently than other star players around the league just because the boss upstairs has a net worth of $17.5 billion. They've learned while working under the third-year owner that he operates within a line of reason. In Flushing, baseball is a business, too. Those that have gotten to know Cohen say it's important to him not to get emotional or sentimental with player contracts — like the Polar Bear's. So, Cohen might not overpay for Alonso or aggressively approach his asking price if he and his brain trust determine the parameters of such a deal are unreasonable. There is a limit to everything, though the line that Cohen has demarcated when it comes to the most prolific slugger the Mets franchise has ever produced remains unclear. What I can confidently report, without any doubt, is that Alonso is not toxic to the Mets' clubhouse, as one recent report suggested. Bench coach Eric Chavez asked that his thoughts on the subject be printed. For the rest of the story, [click here.]( [STORY IMAGE 1] [IN OTHER WORDS] - A self-imposed deadline has passed, but Indy may continue to gauge the market for the disgruntled RB. Ben Arthur provides a [breakdown of the situation](. - The NL leaders in WAR, home runs, doubles and stolen bases are four different players, and they hail from the two best teams. So, which one will win MVP? Rowan Kavner [breaks down the case for each](. - In just four weeks, the Angels went from all-in to tanking. In light of Tuesday's stunning development, Rowan Kavner addresses why, how they got here, and [what's next](. - Deion Sanders finally makes his debut at Colorado on Saturday, and Sonny Dykes' Horned Frogs hardly provide a soft landing spot. Bryan Fischer [previews the matchup](. For the latest news and updates, [click here.]( [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Texas Rangers at New York Mets (MLBN, 6:40 p.m. ET) The powerful Ranger offense looks to close out the series against the Mets in style when they battle in New York. Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers (MLBN, 10:10 p.m. ET) The Dodgers and the Diamondbacks collide in Los Angeles with each team looking to gain another divisional victory. For all of today's games and scores, [click here](. [BET OF THE DAY] Jordan Travis to win 2023-24 Heisman Trophy (+1400) From FOX Sports Betting Analyst: Geoff Schwartz Travis is entering his sixth college season. He started the last two seasons under Mike Norvell at Florida State. In 2022, the 6-foot-1 West Palm Beach native completed 64% of passes for 3,214 yards while rushing for another 417. He'll need to play more consistently, but I expect him to do just that in his fifth year in FSU's system. Florida State's schedule features LSU, Clemson, Miami and Florida. This means the Seminoles' QB will get several opportunities to show off his electric plays on national television. Let's remember that college offenses are geared toward systems featuring quarterbacks as the primary weapon. So it’s difficult for a running back to gain real traction in this race. However, I have selected one running back who I think is worth some early action for the Heisman. If a running back can break through to win the award next year, it's him. For the latest betting odds, [click here](. [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV | Vizio | LG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV | Vizio | LG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2023 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. 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