Did the Mets really want to keep Pete Alonso? That question was answered on Wednesday when they let the franchise’s all-time home run record-holder walk to the Baltimore Orioles on a five-year contract that they didn’t bother to try to match.

At the same time, one could well ask if Alonso really wanted to keep the Mets. When the Orioles introduce him at a press conference, he will surely say all the right things — he loved playing in New York and the Mets fans in general.

The reality, however, is that in the end, Alonso answered by taking the money and running to Baltimore, which is his prerogative. Not only did he take the money and run, he couldn’t wait to take it; this Mets fan will long remember that Alonso immediately exercised his opt-out right after the Mets lost the 162nd game of

See Full Page