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A16 SPORTS
Friday 19 July 2024

New York Mets 1B Pete Alonso among MLB stars who could use big

second half heading into free agency

By DAVID BRANDT best I can to help my team
AP Baseball Writer win. I’m just focused on the
PHOENIX (AP) — Pete season at hand.”
Alonso’s disappointing Here are a few other po-
performance in this year’s tential free agents who are
Home Run Derby wasn’t a looking to raise their stock
particularly big deal for the in the second half:
future of his big-league ca- 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Car-
reer. dinals: Does the 36-year-
His play over the next three old slugger have anything
months could be a differ- left in the tank for another
ent story. contract? He was the Na-
The 29-year-old is one of the tional League MVP in 2022,
most coveted free agents but has regressed in a hurry
in Major League Baseball since that point. The first
for the upcoming offseason baseman is hitting just .230
and could make himself a with 13 homers, 37 RBIs and
lot of money or potentially a career-low .664 OPS.
lose a lot of it depending 3B Alex Bregman, As-
on how he plays in the sec- tros: The 30-year-old has
ond half of the season. New York Yankees’ Juan Soto releases his bat during his at-bat in the third inning of a baseball bounced back somewhat
game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Baltimore.
Alonso played in his fourth Associated Press from a very slow start, post-
All-Star game on Tuesday ing a .256 average, 12 hom-
night, making the National good for most players, but ation. He just wants to play on winning games and I’m ers and .730 OPS through 92
League team despite a for a man who wants to hit well so his New York Mets just really focused on doing games. But those numbers
relatively lackluster first half. the market as one of the make the playoffs which what I can every single day are still below his career av-
He’s hitting .240 with 19 game’s elite players, it’s not would happen if the sea- to help the team in a posi- erages. A big second half
homers and 51 RBIs and a up to his standards. son ended today. tive way,” Alonso said. “I’m would help ease fears that
career-low .772 OPS. Those Alonso said he’s not wor- “I don’t dwell on it at all honestly just focusing on he’s on the downhill side of
numbers might be pretty ried about his personal situ- because I’m just focused performing and doing the his career.q