Part 6/9:
While this deal appears beneficial for both the team and Alonso, it does not eliminate the pressure for the player to perform. Historically, Alonso's hitting prowess has been favored by fans, and this is a key year for him to prove he's still one of the premier sluggers in Major League Baseball. The Mets are banking on their investment being returned in full force with performance that matches prior seasons.
The dichotomy of the player’s status has been highlighted in various discussions: on one hand, Alonso has significant leverage as a star player of a rebuilding franchise; on the other, it appears he might have miscalculated the market value of his talent given the recent trends of players betting on themselves and to varying degrees of success.