The New York Mets, who started the season strong and still hold a solid 46–32 record, have recently hit a rough patch. Their latest loss came Sunday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, capping off a difficult two-week stretch in which they’ve dropped eight of their last nine games.

The team built on its surprising playoff success from last year by handing out the largest contract in baseball history to Juan Soto, and it paid top dollar for other win-now additions like Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas.

A protracted free agency kept Alonso’s Mets future in limbo this past offseason. But he eventually signed a two-year, $54 million contract — with an opt-out after 2024 — shortly before spring training to remain in Queens. So far, it has paid dividends for both Alonso and the Mets, as he’s in the midst of a career year.