The New York Mets are stuck between a rock and a hard place with Pete Alonso. The 29-year-old is entering the final year of his contract. His agent, Scott Boras, tends to drive a hard bargain. The Mets aren't exactly rebuilding, but it's clear their focus is on the future more than the present.
And yet, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post eloquently lays out, the front office is probably concerned about fan perception. GM David Stearns came over from the Milwaukee Brewers to a chorus of questions about his "small-market tendencies." The Mets' offseason to date has been rather quiet compared to their bungled spending spree of 2023. Trade Alonso, and the Mets' tank job becomes all too obvious.
New York is essentially drifting in limbo here. All logic points toward trading Alonso and recouping value before it's too late. MLB teams are coming to place less stock in limited corner infielders. A long-term Alonso contract will carry into his late-30s, and maybe even his early-40s depending on how ardently some teams pursue him. If New York wants to jump off the sinking ship, all it will take is a few phone calls and more hours spent at the negotiating table.
There's a chance the Mets carry Alonso into the 2024 season. Stearns already vowed to do just that. Still, the trade deadline will loom large above the Mets franchise, especially if the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies jump out to sizable leads in the NL East.
Here are a few teams with the assets and motivation to save Alonso from an uncomfortable situation in New York.
5. Seattle Mariners could trade for Pete Alonso
The Seattle Mariners were connected to Pete Alonso earlier in the offseason. The Mariners are now in the mix for Cody Bellinger, per the latest reports. It's clear Seattle wants another powerful bat to flesh out their lineup. If the Mets decide to put Alonso on the market officially, Seattle is a team to watch.
Ty France made the All-Star team in 2022, so the Mariners aren't exactly short on talent at first base. Even so, Seattle could desire an upgrade. France has experience at other positions in the infield and there's always room for Seattle to get creative with its DH spot. Alonso is too potent a bat to ignore because of minor logistical hurdles.
The Mariners don't traditionally spend top dollar in free agency, but the team is right on the precipice of contention. Julio Rodriguez is an ascendent superstar. The front office poached Mitch Garver from Texas. Alonso would complete the middle portion of the Mariners' lineup, making Seattle an intimidating force for opposing pitchers.
The long-term complications of Alonso's contract and upcoming free agency make Seattle an outside possibility, but we cannot ignore the Mariners. There are too many indicators of their interest in Alonso and players in that archetype.
4. San Francisco Giants can trade for Pete Alonso
The San Francisco Giants have been connected to every major offensive star of the last couple offseason cycles. Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, Shohei Ohtani, Cody Bellinger — the list is rather extensive. It's clear the Giants want to level up with splashy moves. The pressure on the front office will only get more intense after the Dodgers' monster free agency class.
Pete Alonso is a prime trade candidate if the Giants get tired of striking out in free agency. He would anchor the lineup for new manager Bob Melvin. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores complicate the positional fit slightly, but Flores has experience all across the infield and Wade is competent in the outfield. Also, there is always the DH spot. Alonso would satiate the Giants' full-fledged pursuit of star power. Plus, we know San Francisco has the financial backing to pay Alonso his worth in free agency or beforehand.
The Giants face an uphill battle after their 2023 season fizzled out under Gabe Kapler. They brought in an experienced manager in Melvin, with a clear mandate to win games and compete for a postseason spot. The Dodgers sit atop the NL West and it's hard to imagine San Francisco — or most MLB teams — pushing them off their pedestal. That said, Alonso can swing entire games with one hack at the plate. He's the type of run machine the Giants' offense desperately lacks. Recent signee Jung Hoo Lee is a tremendous source of defense and contact hitting, but Alonso would improve the Giants' ability to generate explosive moments on offense.
San Francisco is perhaps the most desperate star-hunting team in baseball. If Alonso becomes available, one has to imagine Pete Putila will make the call.
3. Toronto Blue Jays can trade for Pete Alonso
The Toronto Blue Jays were heavily involved in the Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto sagas, but neither superstar migrated north of the border. As their TV market shifts, there is tremendous pressure on the Blue Jays' front office to deliver a winning product. Toronto has been connected to Cody Bellinger. The idea is that, in addition to Bo Bichette and the still-potent slugging of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto needs one more power source to level up.
Alonso's precarious contract situation will scare most teams, but Toronto has the clearance from above to spend maximum dollars on star talent. Ohtani was an exception, of course, but the Blue Jays wouldn't have gone after Juan Soto if there wasn't confidence in their ability to keep him long term. Alonso doesn't occupy the same star stratum as Soto, but that could increase the chances of Toronto finding common ground on a new contract — either during the season or in free agency.
Toronto's offseason is primarily centered on finding a lefty to balance out the spate of right-handers at the front end of their lineup. Bellinger would be the more natural fit as a result. Still, if Bellinger re-signs with Chicago (as expected) or goes elsewhere, Alonso is good enough to warrant the investment in another right-handed bat. Especially with Matt Chapman's future in doubt and Guerrero's power numbers starting to waver.
Alonso would give the Blue Jays 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI on a regular basis. He would also serve as a strong response to the Yankees' acquisition of Juan Soto in the same division.
Toronto won 89 games last season. They're not far off. Alonso can push them over the edge.
2. Chicago Cubs can trade for Pete Alonso
The Chicago Cubs continue their delicate offseason dance with Cody Bellinger. The general expectation is that Bellinger will eventually re-sign, but there's far too much uncertainty for the fanbase or the front office to feel comfortable. If the Cubs can't retain Bellinger, their offensive inadequacy will come into sharp focus.
Alonso makes the most sense for Chicago if the Cubs can't agree to terms with Bellinger. Chicago's defense is airtight and the pitching staff is in a solid place following the Shota Imanaga signing. Still, none of that matters if Craig Counsell doesn't have enough pawns to move around the chess board. The Cubs' offense hovered around the middle of the pack in terms of home runs and extra-base hits last season. Remove Bellinger from the equation, and it gets dicey.
Chicago barely missed the playoffs in 2023. After landing Counsell on a record contract, it would be a shame for the Cubs to take a step back because the front office couldn't tread water. Alonso is a potential bailout option. Chicago would have to reckon with paying him — and dealing with Scott Boras, again — but there is pressure on Jed Hoyer and the Cubs' decision-makers to deliver a competitive product.
Even if the Cubs land Bellinger, it would still be worth looking into the Alonso possibility. The Braves, Phillies, Astros, Dodgers, Rangers — all the MLB's top contenders are brimming with offensive powerhouses. Alonso and Bellinger, in tandem, would put Chicago squarely in the National League contenders conversation.
1. New York Yankees can trade for Pete Alonso
The New York Yankees reacted to their postseason whiff as expected, with an aggressive winter from Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner. Few teams can match the Yankees' spending power when motivated. Even fewer teams can match their organizational prestige. Players want to wear the pinstripes and play in Yankee Stadium.
In a recent appearance on SNY's Baseball Night in New York, host Sal Licata hinted at Alonso's potential willingness to leave Queens and journey to the Bronx.
"I’m not 100 percent certain that Alonso is all about being a lifelong Met. I think it’s very possible that he may prefer, the two teams that I’ve heard — [Cubs, Yankees]."
That's a point in favor of Chicago, but of course the Yankees will draw the most buzz as a potential Alonso landing spot. It would physically pain the Mets (and especially Mets fans) to watch Alonso playing for their cross-town rivals, but if New York comes with a serious offer, it's front office malpractice not to consider the deal. It would be especially beneficial for the Mets to punt Alonso to the American League in the event of a trade.
The Yankees have history with Scott Boras. The Yankees will have to focus on re-signing Juan Soto in the offseason, too, but the Yankees are liquid enough to hand out two major long-term deals in the same winter. It can't hurt that both share the same agent. An Alonso trade could add stress to the Yankees' 2025 schedule, but that's the price of contention. It's the price of being the Yankees.
Planting Alonso next to Soto and Aaron Judge in the same lineup is... tantalizing as a concept, to say the least. The Yankees certainly warrant monitoring here. No team can feel better about its chances of keeping Alonso in free agency.