Insider shares confusing trade updates on Mets' Pete Alonso

It appears that the New York Mets won't be trading All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso this summer — unless they do. 

In a piece posted on Thursday night, MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that "the belief today is Pete Alonso isn’t too likely to be traded." Heyman acknowledged that his update "doesn’t mean the Mets won’t listen again" to trade offers for the slugger. 

As Julia Stumbaugh of Bleacher Report shared, Heyman said earlier this week that there was a "decent chance... not more than 50 percent" that Alonso could be made available before the July 30 trade deadline. 

Heyman added at that time that Alonso’s popularity among fans and teammates could make it difficult for Mets owner Steve Cohen to pull the trigger on such a trade even though the "Polar Bear" is on track to reach free agency this fall and turns 30-years-old in December. 

Any confusion about Alonso's short-term future seems to be related to the fact that, as both Joel Sherman of the New York Post and SNY's John Harper pointed out, it remains unclear what the 2024 Mets are and/or aren't. They started the season at 0-5, improved to 12-8 and began Friday at 16-15. 

Mets ace Kodai Senga hasn't yet made his campaign debut because of a moderate capsule strain in the back of his shoulder, and nobody knows for sure how he'll perform, assuming he's able to come back in early or mid-June. Power-hitting catcher Francisco Alvarez may be out until July after he underwent surgery to repair a UCL tear in his left thumb.

As recently as Friday morning, Jim Bowden of The Athletic noted that the Mets "might have to consider trading" Alonso at the deadline "if they’re out of contention, as he’s an impending free agent and they haven’t been able to extend him." It's widely believed no contract extension will come during the season. 

Meanwhile, the Mets are expected to heavily pursue New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto, assuming he reaches free agency after the World Series. 

In short, Alonso isn't available today and won't be available tomorrow. If, however, he doesn't heat up along with the outside temperatures en route to routinely helping the Mets win games, Cohen and team president of baseball operations David Stearns may need to have some difficult conversations around the All-Star break. 

Alonso entered Friday batting .218 with eight home runs, 15 RBI and a .754 OPS across 31 games on the season.