Mets’ Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil need contract extensions by Opening Day

Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsUpon thinking about top-tier position players the Mets have developed, what are some names that immediately come to mind?

The four dudes I think of are Darryl Strawberry, Edgardo Alfonzo, David Wright, and Jose Reyes. Among this group, Wright and Reyes stand out for a couple of reasons. They played for the Mets during this author’s formative years, so they made an impression on me. But it was also very cool to see the Mets develop and promote two players who appeared to be franchise cornerstones.

It’s a different situation, but Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil have provided a similar kind of hope since landing in the big leagues. The 2022 season was a banner one for…