Due to the "Cohen Tax," Pete Alonso will end up costing the Mets much more than his $30 million AAV this season.

After a tumultuous offseason, Pete Alonso is back in his familiar spot at first base with the Mets. Contract negotiations didn’t go the way he had envisioned as a big, long-term contract eluded him, but he has a second bite at the apple this year to prove himself once again.

The Mets temporarily solved their first base problem when they re-signed Pete Alonso in early February. Alonso’s two-year, $54 million deal includes an opt-out, which he’ll likely exercise. This has led some to speculate that the Mets were maneuvering to bring in someone like Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerror Jr.

Pete Alonso is the present, but his status on the team beyond this year remains uncertain. Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets from spring training There’s a power-hitting first baseman coming through the Mets pipeline for the future,