Five questions facing the Mets for the rest of 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As the trade deadline came and went, a huge chunk of the Mets’ roster went with it. For the rest of the Mets — plus the replacements — and organizational decision-makers, the next two months will take on a different tone than the ones that preceded. It will be less about stacking wins and more about figuring out what they have and want for 2024 (and beyond). 

Here are five questions for the rest of the Mets’ season. 

1. Will the Mets try to sign Pete Alonso to a contract extension?   

With the Mets trading Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, who had been key pieces of the 2024 team, calling into question the club’s ability/desire to win then, others under contract/team control through only next season enter the spotlight in a new way. 

Foremost among them is Alonso, who is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2024 season. Alonso and general manager Billy Eppler have consistently declined to talk publicly about the possibility of a long-term deal and that probably won’t change — though it won’t stop people from asking it and wondering. 

Alonso’s future will be a huge story for the Mets until it is resolved, one way or another, this summer, this offseason or next. 

2. Can David Peterson and/or Tylor Megill establish themselves as legitimate major-league options? 

Both homegrown pitchers are poised to re-enter the rotation, filling the holes created by the departures of Scherzer and Verlander. Now it is a matter of what they do with that opportunity — and how that impacts the Mets’ offseason needs. 

Last winter, the Mets decided they were best off treating Peterson and Megill as depth options, hence the additions of Verlander, Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana. Looking ahead to 2024, only Senga and Quintana are penciled boldly into the rotation. 

Peterson and Megill have a chance to add their names. 

Since returning to the majors in late June, Peterson has a 2.31 ERA (in three starts and six relief…