Pete Alonso is undoubtedly among the top power hitters on the offseason free agent market. The longtime New York Mets first baseman has slashed .229/.324/.480 over the past two seasons, hitting 80 home runs in that span.
Many teams could use that kind of production from the middle of their lineup. The only question is, how much are executives willing to pay?
More news: New Team To Join List of Scheduled Juan Soto Meetings: Report
MLB Trade Rumors recently projected Alonso to sign a five-year, $125 million contract. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the Mets offered Alonso a seven-year, $158 million contract extension last year — one that would cover his final season of arbitration eligibility, then six more years.
The Mets could certainly afford to re-sign Alonso still. Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently reported the New York Yankees have "checked in" on Alonso. Alonso makes sense for both New York teams, if not as a fallback option in case they don't snare Juan Soto, then as a primary target for the middle of their lineup.
More news: Brooklyn Native Who Roamed Dodgers' Outfield Passes Away
One team seldom linked to any high-profile free agents this offseason is the Washington Nationals. The Nats missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season in 2024, going 71-91 en route to a fourth-place finish in the National League East.
It was at least a mild surprise, then, to see Alonso linked to the Nationals in ESPN's annual postseason survey of major league executives released Tuesday.
"Nearly half of our voters do expect Alonso to sign elsewhere — though one predicted he would still call the National League East home," writes Jesse Rogers.
More news: '30 out of 30' GMs Expect Roki Sasaki to Sign With One Team: Report
"He signs with Washington as a vibes/power guy similar to when they signed Jayson Werth before 2011, before their team was fully formed," an anonymous survey respondent told Rogers.
Alonso hit a Wild Card series-clinching three-run home run in Milwaukee to lift the Mets into the National League Division Series. While those vibes would translate more directly to the Mets' fan base that cheered him on, perhaps the Nationals — or another rebuilding club — would make an exception in their budget for a player with quality postseason experience to help lead a young team back to baseball's promised land.
More news: Yankees' Michael Kay Explains 'Where Fans are Dead Wrong' About Juan Soto
The obvious tradeoff lies with Alonso's defensive versatility. He's never played a defensive position other than first base, although he has made four All-Star teams at the position.
Alonso, who turns 30 in December, is a career .249/.339/.514 hitter with 226 home runs and 586 RBIs in six seasons (2019-24) with the Mets. He hit a career-high 53 home runs, a rookie record, en route to capturing the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2019.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Related Articles
- Cubs Projected To Keep $80 Million Franchise Cornerstone Outfielder This Winter
- Yankees, Mets Ideal Juan Soto Backup Plan Declines Dodgers' $21 Million Qualifying Offer
- Mets Predicted to Land Four-Time All-Star Projected to Sign $224 Million Deal
- Mets Named Top Landing Spot for $156 Million Two-Time All-Star Rival Ace