Pete Alonso revives old Mets feud before powering Orioles past Yankees

Pete Alonso has never been afraid to speak his mind. On Friday, the Orioles slugger found a new way to remind the baseball world of one of the most memorable comments from his tense contract negotiations with the Mets.

Hours before Baltimore's doubleheader against the Yankees, Alonso was spotted wearing a T-shirt featuring a quote that has become part of Mets lore.

Produced by sports apparel company BreakingT, the shirt celebrates Alonso's 300th career home run but also prominently displays the line he reportedly delivered to Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns during negotiations following the 2024 season: "When my career is being evaluated for the Hall of Fame years from now, you'll still be fiddling with your f--king formulas."

Alonso has been thriving with the Orioles

The remark, first reported by Jon Heyman in May, emerged from a contentious period between Alonso and the Mets front office. At the time, the five-time All-Star was coming off what was considered a down year by his standards, hitting .240 with 34 home runs and a .788 OPS in 2024. Despite the dip in production, Alonso remained one of baseball's premier power hitters and was seeking a contract that reflected that status.

The Mets reportedly offered a deal worth roughly $40 million over two years. Negotiations became heated, but the two sides ultimately reached a compromise: a two-year, $54 million contract that included an opt-out clause after the 2025 season.

Alonso exercised that opt-out and entered free agency once again. This time, the outcome was different. Last winter, he signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles, ending his long tenure in Queens and beginning a new chapter in Baltimore. If Friday's shirt was intended as a reminder of that saga, Alonso backed it up with the type of performance that has defined his first season with the Orioles.

An impressive debut season in Baltimore

The slugger launched two home runs in Baltimore's 10-2 victory over the Yankees, including a towering 471-foot blast in the seventh inning. The drive matched the second-longest home run of his eight-year major league career and further strengthened his case as one of the game's most feared power hitters.

The performance also added to what has become an impressive debut season in Baltimore. After a slow start, Alonso has emerged as a centerpiece of the Orioles' lineup, entering the day with a .267/.363/.522 slash line and a major-league-leading 43 home runs in the American League.

For Baltimore , that production is precisely why the organization committed long-term dollars to the veteran first baseman. For Alonso, it is another reminder that his power remains among the sport's elite. The timing of Friday's outburst was especially notable given Alonso's recent return to New York.

Earlier this month, he received a warm reception at Citi Field when the Orioles visited the Mets. During the series, Alonso hit the 300th home run of his career off former teammate Kodai Senga, tying the game in the ninth inning and prompting a curtain call from Mets fans . The moment served as a reminder that despite the contract disputes and eventual departure, Alonso's connection to New York remains strong