ATLANTA — Pete Alonso’s reaction to a report Tuesday that the Brewers tried to acquire him at the trade deadline was to reaffirm his devotion to the Mets.
The Athletic reported that one Milwaukee source said the talks progressed to the point at which the teams were within “field-goal range” of a trade.
Alonso learned of the report after the Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Braves at Truist Park.
“I love representing this organization, I love being a Met,” Alonso said. “I love representing the City of New York the best way I possibly can.
“I love everybody in this clubhouse and being a Met is the only thing I know.”
Alonso, who is third in the major leagues with 39 homers, can head to free agency after the 2024 season.
The Mets and Alonso have declined to say whether the two sides have been negotiating a contract extension.
Value for Alonso would have been maximum at this trade deadline, giving the acquiring team two pennant races with him in the lineup.
But the Mets could still look to trade Alonso this winter to avoid the possibility of receiving only draft-pick compensation for him should he sign elsewhere after next season.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but right now I’m a Met and I love being Met,” Alonso said. “I take pride in putting on a Met jersey every day and representing the City of New York.”
On Tuesday, Alonso was drilled in the back by a Bryce Elder pitch in the fourth inning, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
In the Mets’ last visit to Truist Park, in June, the Mets’ first baseman was caught on a microphone yelling, “Throw it again, please!” after he had blasted a slider for a home run.
In the following game, Alonso was drilled by a Charlie Morton pitch in the right wrist and spent 10 days on the injured list.
But Alonso downplayed the idea the latest plunking was related to what occurred in June.
“It was just baseball, a fastball got away from him,” Alonso said.
And Alonso seemed to take the fans’ reaction in stride.
“Boos are just the same as cheers on the road,” Alonso said. “It means you are doing something right. It’s fine. It’s just fans doing their job. Atlanta, it’s a great environment to play here. It’s super fun and they always do a great job of packing it out. … it’s just friendly competition.”
In playing the “what if” game regarding the Mets’ season, manager Buck Showalter has wondered what might have been different with a healthy Sam Coonrod from the start.
The right-handed reliever was on the verge of earning a spot on the Opening Day roster during spring training when an 80 percent tear of his right lat sent him to the injured list.
Coonrod finally debuted for the Mets last week.
He is unscored upon in his four appearances, with one hit allowed and four strikeouts.
Coonrod took another step for the Mets on Monday by appearing in back-to-back games for the first time since his return.
“We believe in his stuff — his stuff is closer’s stuff,” pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said. “It’s just always about his ability to stay on the field and stay healthy.”
Coonrod appeared in only 12 games for the Phillies last year after spending the first 4 ½ months sidelined with a shoulder strain.
The 30-year-old is under the Mets’ control for next season.
“I’ve always been intrigued by Sam and I thought the way that Buck handles relievers would lend itself to keeping him healthy,” Hefner said. “He just had an unfortunate [injury] in spring training and didn’t have a chance to get his feet underneath him.”
John Curtiss underwent surgery to remove a loose body from his right elbow and is expected to be ready for spring training, according to Showalter.
In 15 appearances for the Mets this season, the right-handed reliever pitched to a 4.58 ERA.
Curtiss, 30, spent all of last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
“It would not surprise me if he came back and got to the next level,” Showalter said. “Sometimes [with Tommy John] it’s almost the following year, but I think there is another level he can go to … I know it was a frustrating year for him. You see some of the things he can do and not being able to get to them was really frustrating for him.”
Starling Marte received an injection in his right groin, according to Showalter, after getting a second opinion on the ailment.
The manager said the diagnosis hasn’t changed (a right groin strain) and the hope is Marte will play again this season.
Mark Vientos, who is on the injured list with left wrist tendinitis, could begin playing in minor league rehab games by the end of the week.
RHP Dennis Santana cleared waivers and elected free agency.