Is free-agent move a sign Mets are close to bringing Pete Alonso back?

New York Mets fans learned about a free-agent signing that wasn't quite the one they wanted to see when it was reported Wednesday that the club is bringing reliever Ryne Stanek back via a one-year deal worth between $4-5M, per MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY. 

Martino later suggested that the Stanek news could be a sign that the Mets and free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso are closer to an agreement than some believed as recently as Tuesday afternoon. 

"They had been talking to more expensive relievers like Kenley Jansen," Martino wrote about the Mets. "The Stanek signing could keep a bit of wiggle room to spend on Alonso. The Stanek signing more likely than not signals that the Mets are now happy with their bullpen."

While Mets owner Steve Cohen publicly acknowledged at a fan event this past Saturday that contract talks with Alonso have been "exhausting," it was reported Tuesday night that Cohen "was back in conversation with Alonso’s camp." Jon Heyman of the New York Post also mentioned in that piece that "it feels like Alonso desperately hopes to return" to what's been his only MLB club since he made his big-league debut in 2019. 

Meanwhile, Martino and MLB Network analyst Jim Duquette are among those who have expressed doubts that the Toronto Blue Jays will better the three-year offer from the Mets to Alonso. The offer reportedly included opt-outs and was worth more than $70M with deferred money. Toronto recently signed outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year deal worth at least $92.5M. 

"Talks were advancing last week between Alonso’s camp and Toronto," Martino shared in Wednesday's update. "But a potential stumbling block there could have been deferred money, based on Toronto’s heavily deferred agreement with outfielder Anthony Santander. ...The Mets' stance on Alonso as a player and person has remained consistent: They like him and have wanted him back all along." 

Martino added that the Mets possibly re-signing Alonso "won’t happen [Wednesday] or likely this week." If it's true that Alonso "desperately hopes to return" to the Mets and has learned he's not receiving a better offer before spring training begins, he theoretically could decide he wants to have his short-term future sorted out before January ends.