Make New York Post a Preferred Source Pete Alonso still has a bone to pick with David Stearns.
Ahead of one of the Orioles’ doubleheader games against the Yankees on Friday, Alonso was reportedly seen donning a shirt which included an explicit statement he made to Stearns while still on the Mets, according to Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner.
The shirt, produced by sports apparel brand BreakingT, mainly celebrates Alonso’s 300th career home run, but includes the quote: “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 was also seen wearing the shirt at Camden Yards earlier this month, photos from BreakingT’s social media show.
He said the quote — which was first reported by The Post’s Jon Heyman back in May — to Stearns during heated negotiations following the 2024 season.
The five-time All-Star was coming off a down season in 2024, posting a slash line of .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs, the lowest of Alonso’s career in a full season, and the Mets were looking to pay him roughly $40 million for two years.
Stearns and Mets owner Steve Cohen responded to Alonso’s comment by suggesting they would try and work out a deal, per Heyman.
Alonso’s cutthroat tactics seemingly worked, with him and the Mets eventually agreeing on a two-year, $54 million deal, with an opt-out after the 2025 season, which he took and later signed with Baltimore on a five-year, $155 deal last offseason.
On the same day as wearing the controversial shirt, Alonso belted two home runs during the Orioles’ 10-2 win over the Yankees, including a 471-foot blast in the seventh inning — tied for the second-longest of his eight-year career.
Despite a slow start, Alonso has enjoyed a relatively successful first year in Baltimore, putting up a slash line of .267/.363/.522 and currently is the American League leader in home runs (43).
Alonso made his return to Citi Field earlier this month, where he was met with enormous cheers when he hit his 300th carrer home run off ex-teammate Kodai Senga to tie the game in the ninth inning — prompting a curtain call from the Mets crowd.
“I am beyond thankful for all the support and it was really fun to play,” Alonso said following the Orioles’ series against the Mets. “I feel like New York will always be a place where it feels like homecoming – it doesn’t matter whether it’s here or at Yankee Stadium.
“The whole city of New York is meaningful to us.”
