The team built on its surprising playoff success from last year by handing out the largest contract in baseball history to Juan Soto, and it paid top dollar for other win-now additions like Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas.

The New York Mets were battered 10-2 by the surging Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night, a loss that not only extended their losing streak to seven games but also stripped them of first place in the National League East.

A protracted free agency kept Alonso’s Mets future in limbo this past offseason. But he eventually signed a two-year, $54 million contract — with an opt-out after 2024 — shortly before spring training to remain in Queens. So far, it has paid dividends for both Alonso and the Mets, as he’s in the midst of a career year.