Dodgers might've ignited chain reaction of Mets’ downfall that Pete Alonso sealed

New York Mets fans only had about 24 hours to feel bad for themselves after the Los Angeles Dodgers stole their closer. Suddenly, the pain of Edwin Díaz donning Dodger blue in 2026 was violently replaced in the mind's eye of Mets fans everywhere by Pete Alonso wearing Orioles orange.

As ESPN's Jeff Passan dropped the bombshell news on Wednesday that Alonso and the Orioles were finalizing a five-year, $155 million contract, Mets fans went into full crisis mode, realizing they'd just lost not one, but two franchise cornerstones in 48 hours. Things got even worse for Mets fans within minutes of Passan's post, when MLB.com's Anthony DiComo revealed that the Mets reportedly never made a formal offer to Alonso.

It's also worth a reminder that New York traded fan-favorite center fielder Brandon Nimmo on Nov. 24. And while the Mets got a good player back in Marcus Semien, all of these moves have collectively ticked off the fan base in enormous fashion. Does the Steve Cohen/David Stearns brain trust have something epic up its sleeve to redeem all of this, or are the Mets simply getting exposed right now?

Dodgers signing Edwin Díaz was one huge sign that the Mets are blowing their offseason

When the Mets signed Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million deal on Dec. 3, many fans in Queens were fully expecting the club to follow that up by re-signing Díaz, thereby creating a dynamic duo for late-inning situations.

You can imagine the disgust from Mets fans upon seeing Díaz sign with the Dodgers for a dollar figure not exorbitantly higher than what New York had just gifted to Williams. Why hadn't Cohen/Stearns just ignored Williams and given Díaz that money, plus the extra $18 million that he's more than earned as one of the game's best closers? Mets fans haven't stopped shaking their heads over this question, all the while Dodgers supporters rejoice.

Wednesday's Alonso news was a classic case of insult added to injury, but it's more so the collective onslaught of negative headlines for the Mets that have fans truly depressed. Alonso departing in and of itself wouldn't be causing a reaction akin to a full-scale riot if he was the only player Mets fans had to see walk this offseason. With all due respect to the Polar Bear and his greatness in a Mets uniform, a lot of fans saw his departure written on the wall and were at peace with it.

But when you lose Alonso, Díaz, and Nimmo all within a few weeks, and all you have to show for it in return is Devin Williams (who struggled in New York for much of 2025) and Marcus Semien, there's legitimate reason for outrage. With the Díaz signing, the Dodgers can say that they contributed an important pillar to what has so far been a colossal offseason failure for the Mets.