The New York Mets dominated headlines earlier this offseason by signing outfielder Juan Soto to a record-breaking $765 million contract. However, homegrown slugger Pete Alonso is still on the open market. Will the Polar Bear remain in Queens, or could the San Francisco Giants convince him to leave?
Alonso has been one of baseball’s best power hitters since his 2019 National League Rookie of the Year campaign. His 226 career home runs rank third in Mets history, and only Aaron Judge has gone deep more often than him over the past six seasons. New York appears to be the best landing spot for Alonso. That’s become even more obvious over the past week or so.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 28: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) New York Mets owner Steve Cohen speaks to the media before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field on June 28, 2023 in New York City. The Brewers defeated the Mets 5-2.
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Even if the Mets and Alonso truly want to make something work, the risk of another team swooping in to steal the first baseman increases the longer he lingers in free agency. FanSided’s Zachary Rotman thinks the Giants are Alonso’s best potential “non-Mets” suitor left this winter.
“The Giants have LaMonte Wade and Wilmer Flores set to share first-base duties as of now. While that platoon has worked in the past, both of them are coming off of down years. Alonso would give them a bona fide star at the position, and a middle-of-the-order bopper to pair with (Willy) Adames that this lineup lacks,” Rotman wrote.
“Yes, Oracle Park is a pitcher’s park, but Alonso has the power to hit the ball out anywhere, and his .910 OPS in San Francisco in his career backs that up.”
Acquiring Alonso would give the Giants a real chance at having a player slug at least 30 homers in a season for the first time since Barry Bonds last accomplished the feat in 2004. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman predicted earlier in the offseason that Alonso would land a $152 million deal.
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