With two weeks until New York Mets pitchers and catchers report to spring training, free agent first baseman Pete Alonso remains unsigned, leaving their lineup somewhat unsettled.

The news about the Mets' Ryne Stanek could be a sign that the team and Pete Alonso are closer to an agreement than some believe.

It is conceivable that Baty and Acuña alone could replace Alonso's home runs, which is to say nothing of what they stand to gain from their new center fielder. That is Jose Siri, who hit as many homers on his own last season (18) as the Mets got from all their center fielders.