Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen spoke to reporters on Monday in Scottsdale, Arizona on the first day of the 2019 GM Meetings to give an outlook of their offseason.

Long-Term Deal With Alonso?

Tim Healey of Newsday noted that Van Wagenen when asked about a potential long-term deal for National League Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso, “We haven’t really thought that far ahead about what Pete’s financial situation will be next year, other than the fact that he deserves everything he gets.”

Alonso, 24, will be first-time arbitration eligible after the 2021 season and is scheduled to be a free agent following the 2024 season.

The slugger has become an instant fan favorite after just one of season of hitting long homers while showing strong leadership off the field as well.

Curious Case of Lowrie

Veteran infielder Jed Lowrie tweaked his knee early in Mets camp last season after signing a two-year deal. He was having test done as a precaution. After various other injuries, Lowrie finally made his Mets debut on September 7 when he struck out as a pinch hitter.

The 35-year-old wound up with only eight plate appearances in 2019, all of them as a pinch hitter. He still didn’t look 100% and the Mets never gave him a start, “It’s not going to be a normal offseason considering what he went through last year,” Brodie told Deesha of the New York Daily News.

Brodie would also say the Mets have “continued to try to diagnose what Jed’s issues were that kept him out this season.”

Luxury Tax, Good Luck 

The reality of the Mets offseason is they enter roughly $17 million under the luxury tax threshold and while the penalty (20% on overages) is minimal on first-time offenders, there’s been no indication that Wilpon’s plan to go over.

Brodie’s – when asked about the Mets possibly going over the $208 million luxury tax threshold for 2020 – said that he’ll have that conversation with ownership only if his player acquisition strategy requires it per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Don’t Look For Rendon

Van Wagenen was again asked about the Mets depth at third base and a potential run at free agent Anthony Rendon, and he again pointed to J.D. Davis, Jeff McNeil, and Jed Lowrie as options there, “we feel pretty good about the options in house.”

Meanwhile in Arizona, Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman told reporters that the team will absolutely talk to the agents for free agent stud starting pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Gerrit Cole.

Mets Have Multiple Needs

Van Wagenen noted three specific needs for the Mets this offeason; starting pitching, bullpen help, and center field defense.

An while, BVW seemed to give veteran catcher Wilson Ramos a vote of confidence as the Mets starter, he made it clear they would look for a veteran defensive-minded backup.