Part 2/6:
The signing of Alonso can largely be attributed to the patience demonstrated by the New York Mets organization. It became evident that Alonso had a strong desire to remain with the team. Although he didn’t secure the massive $200 million contract that some anticipated, he did manage to sign one of the most lucrative deals ever for a first baseman in free agency. According to insider Joel Sherman, Alonso's average annual value (AAV) tied for the second-highest ever for a free-agent first baseman, only trailing behind Miguel Cabrera’s extension with the Detroit Tigers.