New York Mets' Pete Alonso posits that MLB 'manipulates the baseball' based on free-agent class [View all]

[Auggie]

espn.com

NEW YORK -- Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said Wednesday that he disagrees with MLB's crackdown on pitcher-friendly foreign substances, and that the larger issue facing the sport is the league's manipulation of baseballs depending on free-agent class -- a theory he presented as "fact."

"The biggest concern is MLB manipulates the baseball year in and year out depending on free-agency class, or guys being in an advanced part of their arbitration," Alonso said during a videoconference with reporters.

Asked in a follow-up question if the idea of MLB manipulating baseballs based on free-agent class is something players "talk about and believe in," Alonso replied, "Oh no, that's a fact."

He continued: "In 2019, there was a huge class of free-agent pitchers and then that's quote-unquote 'the juiced balls,' and then 2020 was a strange year with the COVID season. But now that we're back to playing in a regular season with a ton of shortstops or position players that are going to be paid a lot of money like high-caliber players -- I mean, yeah, that's not a coincidence. It's definitely something that they do."

MORE: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31599594/new-york-mets-pete-alonso-posits-mlb-manipulates-baseball-based-free-agent-class

Now that is some allegation! Wow!