Three other Scott Boras clients recently opted out of short-term deals after one year, then struck belated free-agent riches.

In a surprise development, the fan-favorite first baseman reached a two-year, $54 million contract to return to the Mets.

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,