Pete Alonso’s free-agency saga still appears to be at a screeched halt, as a limited market that refuses to give him the term (or money) he wants has left him out in the cold this winter.
Twice now, Alonso has turned down offers from the Mets — once in 2023 when former GM Billy Eppler floated a seven-year, $158 million extension his way, and earlier this month after David Stearns offered him a three-year, $68 million to $70 million offer that included an opt-out.
Reports have surfaced that the Mets are planning to move on from his, though whether that is a last-ditch negotiating tactic or not remains to be seen. They could realistically move Mark Vientos to first base and open up an internal competition at third base between Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Luisangel Acuna if they truly are done with the Polar Bear.
At the end of the day, the rest of the market will help dictate if Alonso’s days in Queens are truly numbered. If no worthy suitors step forth and meet his demands, a reunion cannot be ruled out.
But what suitors exist? And which ones should exist? Let’s take a look:
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blues Jays are still being linked to Alonso even after they signed slugging outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million deal last week. They are also still keen on working out a long-term contract extension with Vladimir Guerrero, which provided initial doubt that they would continue pursuing the Mets star.
Multiple reports, however, have confirmed that Alonso is still in play for the Blue Jays.
Toronto has been keen on spending money for the last few years, though it has failed to make big splashes on the free-agent market in its pursuits of Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, or Juan Soto. The only way they can possibly keep up with the likes of the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, or even the Boston Red Sox in the AL East is by spending.
As of now, their approach seems to be killing the opposition with the long ball. Guerrero is an annual 30-plus-homer threat, and Santander hit a career-high 44 dingers last year.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants were linked to Alonso earlier this offseason, though not much else has come from those rumors.
Still, San Francisco is a team to watch because, like the Blue Jays, they have been trying to spend major money to bring in big-name free agents, including whiffs on Ohtani and Judge.
They made a prominent move earlier this winter by snagging star Milwaukee Brewers infielder Willy Adames in free agency, but a proven power hitter could go a long way into making a legitimate statement that they are trying to contend in a loaded NL West.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels were another team mentioned alongside the Giants in earlier-offseason interest in Alonso.
Things cannot get much bleaker for a franchise that lost Ohtani, has dealt with Mike Trout’s now-annual injury issues, and has not made the postseason in 10 years.
Alonso provides legitimate protection in the lineup for Trout, which is at a premium after a winter of more low-key moves.
Boston Red Sox
Boston continues to hover loosely around the Alonso market, though they seem more intrigued right now with bringing on Alex Bregman to bolster the infield at second base. The trade rumors following their young first baseman, Triston Casas, do not completely rule them out of a Polar Bear pursuit.
After years of hibernation, ultimately leading to the departures of Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, the Red Sox are ready to flash some serious cash. They were in on Soto this winter before losing out to the Mets.
Seattle Mariners
If we’re looking for a team that should be kicking down Alonso and Scott Boras’ door, look no further than the Mariners.
The team desperately needs a first baseman and a legitimate power bat to lengthen a lineup that already has solid pieces in Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh, JP Crawford, and Randy Arozarena. They already have a promising starting rotation that features Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo.
The problem is that the team’s management has no real ambition to legitimately compete. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said that he operates with a 10-year plan of winning just 54% of the time.
“We’re actually doing the fan base a favor in asking for their patience to win a World Series while we continue to build a sustainably good roster,” Dipoto said.
There is patience, and then there is what Mariners fans have had to endure. This is a team that has never appeared in a World Series and has made the postseason just once since 2002.
Alonso could help make this team more of a legitimate postseason contender.
New York Mets
This writer shares the opinion of many, who will only believe Alonso won’t be a Met when he wears the uniform of another team.
Alonso has repeatedly professed his love for the Mets, while Stearns and owner Steve Cohen have praised the 30-year-old. But Stearns has drawn his financial line in the sand and is not moving from it.
Perhaps Alonso sheepishly circles back to the Mets and is willing to take that short-term offer that pays him roughly $23 million per year. Perhaps the relationship is broken beyond repair.
There is no denying, however, that Alonso would be an immense help to a lineup with legitimate World Series aspirations. Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Mark Vientos are an imposing top three, but a projected clean-up hitter like Brandon Nimmo or Jesse Winker does not instill the same sort of fear that Alonso could.
Kcassman