In an exclusive interview, Mets owner Steve Cohen elucidates how the club struck a deal with Pete Alonso that aligns perfectly with David Stearns' guide to becoming a perennial power.

In the end, it was an old-fashioned sit-down between the principles that helped finish the deal that brought Pete Alonso back to the Mets. On Tuesday, team owner Steve Cohen flew to Tampa — where Alonso resides — and along with president of baseball operations David Stearns,

After protracted negotiations, the New York Mets signed slugger Pete Alonso to a two-year, $54 million contract Wednesday. While it seemed at times as if the two sides would be unable to reach an agreement,