For free agents, spring training is something of a soft signing deadline. No one wants to be without a job when camp opens. Free agents want to know where they're playing, where they're going to live,

At some point the Mets either have to hear that Alonso is willing to accept their financial view of him or will get more aggressive elsewhere, probably pretty soon.

The expectation is that Alonso will re-sign with the Mets on a short-term, high AAV deal rather than the long-term $200 million contract. If this is the case, then, depending on the dollar amount, a deal could be considered imminent.