Just before Mets owner Steve Cohen answered a question about where things stand with Alonso, a homegrown star and free agent first baseman, during a panel discussion, a spirited crowd began chanting, “Let’s Sign Pete! Let’s sign Pete! Let’s sign Pete!”

The Mets and Alonso continued to engage in contract talks into the new year, but the two sides were said to be some ways apart financially. The Mets have since seemingly pivoted, signing outfielder Jesse Winker and left-handed reliever A.J. Minter .

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, top baseball operations executive David Stearns, and manager Carlos Mendoza held a forum during the team's fan fest event on Saturday. Predictably, the group was met with "We want Pete" chants from onlookers hoping to persuade the braintrust into entering a new agreement with longtime first baseman and current free agent Pete Alonso.

Mets owner Steve Cohen got real on the failed negotiation talks with free agent !B and former Met Pete Alonso.

The New York Mets could see Pete Alonso leave in free agency. They could swap corner infielders with the Boston Red Sox in a win-win for both teams.

Steve Cohen can afford to pay Pete Alonso whatever he wants. The man ranked No. 162 on Bloomberg's Billionaires index has already committed to paying Juan Soto

This was a recurring theme throughout SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen’s conversation with the Mets’ leadership. Later, after Stearns repeated how much the team loves Alonso, their homegrown, free agent first baseman, Stearns expressed that they “also feel really good about the young players that are coming through (the) system.”

It appears Pete Alonso is going, going, gone. The first Amazin’ Day fan fest at Citi Field did not bring with it a dramatic resolution to Alonso’s free agent saga — but did seem to confirm the New York Mets’ most popular and prolific power hitter is likely to sign elsewhere as spring training nears.

Steve Cohen, in an apparent message to Pete Alonso's agent Scott Boras, said that the Mets' negotiations with the free agent first baseman have been "exhausting."

The Mets held their first winter event for fans in five years at Citi Field, and Pete Alonso was a notable absence.

Both Mark Vientos and Brett Baty are putting in work at first base this offseason as Pete Alonso's free agency drifts closer to spring training.