Players remaining in the Major League FA market have begun to declare "surrender" one by one. 

The Athletic in the U.S. reported the atmosphere of the Major League FA market on the 12th (Korea Standard Time). As the year passed and went to mid-January, FA players, who had not yet decided on a team, accepted the reality and began to lower their standards. 메이저놀이터

According to reports, big guns' first baseman Pete Alonso proposed back to his original team, the New York Mets, a three-year contract that allows him to opt out. The Mets are also positive about the proposal, but they say it is not close to signing the contract yet. 

Alonso, who hit 53 home runs in his first year since debuting in 2019, has been offered a huge seven-year, $158 million contract extension by the Mets during the June 2023 season. It was based on Matt Olson, a left-handed first baseman who signed an eight-year, $168 million contract extension with the Atlanta Braves before the 2022 season. It was an offer that showed sincerity to Alonso, who has grown into a franchise star for the Mets. 

However, Alonso rejected the contract and joined hands with Scott Boras, the "super agent" after the season. He was committed to making a big hit in the FA market after the 2024 season. "A center hitter who can hit 40 home runs, is durable, and can play the infield defense role will not appear in the FA market for several years," Boras said, but he is not going his way as he was hit by cold winds this winter. 

Alonso Contact, who ruined the FA season with a batting average of 240 (146 hits in 608 times at bat) and 34 home runs, 88 RBIs and OPS.788 in 162 games last year, has a clear weakness, and its value has fallen as its strength, long-shot power, has been on the decline for the second year. The team that he wanted did not come out, and he eventually decided to sign a contract with the original Mets by lowering the conditions. 

The Athletic predicted that if the Mets agree to Boras' reverse offer of a three-year contract and apply the opt-out, they will sign a three-year contract worth $93.3 million. It is the highest annual amount among first basemen at an annual average of 31.1 million dollars, but the total amount has been reduced by 40.9% compared to the extension contract a year and a half ago, so we cannot be happy. 

Alonso is not the only player who has declared "surrender" in the FA market. With the opening of spring training in less than a month left in February, several players have begun to lower their expectations. The Athletic reported that Jack Flaherty (30), an FA pitcher, and Anthony Santander (31), an outfielder, are also considering short-term contracts that increase annual average instead of multi-year contracts. 

Flaherty was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of July last year and contributed to the World Series championship, but he was sluggish due to injuries for two consecutive years. Santander, who hit 44 home runs last year, is valued lower than expected due to his low on-base percentage, below-average focus and unstable defense. 

The Athletic said that third baseman Alex Bregman (31) and pitcher Nick Pivetta (32), who turned down qualifying offers from their original teams, will also sign short-term contracts and seek large-scale contracts without being shackled to compensate for qualifying offers in the next FA. A single player cannot receive a qualifying offer that is rewarded for draft picks when transferred to the FA. 

On the other hand, Kim Ha-sung, who came to the market without receiving a qualifying offer from the San Diego Padres, has no compensation shackles. However, the contract seems to be delayed due to uncertainty over the timing of his return to the market and recovery of his skills following shoulder surgery. The Athletic did not mention Kim Ha-sung separately, but it is inevitable to lower the bar as FA players have begun to declare surrender.