Free agent first baseman Pete Alonso is attending the Winter Meetings and will have in-person sit-downs with the Red Sox and Orioles, among other interested clubs, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Both the Red Sox and the O’s have already been at least loosely linked to the Polar Bear, but it’s nevertheless notable that Alonso is both attending the event himself — it’s located within driving distance of his Florida home — and that both are interested enough to meet with the player directly. Presumably, Alonso will be meeting with other clubs this week as well.
Boston has long stood as a logical fit. Triston Casas missed almost the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury. Replacements Romy Gonzalez, Abraham Toro and Nathaniel Lowe held their own, but Toro (outrighted, elected free agency) and Lowe (designated for assignment, non-tendered) are no longer with the club. The vast majority of Gonzalez’s production came against left-handed pitching. He was a below-average hitter versus righties — albeit not by that much, but with the help of a BABIP north of .370.
Casas is hoping to be ready for the beginning of the season, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow sidestepped when asked after the season whether it was fair to expect Casas to be his first baseman in 2026. If the Red Sox want to go cheaper at the position, they could look at a Casas/Gonzalez platoon. But there’s been speculation about trading Casas going back more than a year now, and Gonzalez — who’s played every position on the diamond other than catcher — makes for a fine utility piece even if the Sox go with more of an everyday option at first. Alonso is also open to some DH work, though that’d come into play more if Boston could finally find a taker for what’s left of Masataka Yoshida’s ill-fated five-year contract.
The Red Sox already have about $178MM of payroll obligations for the upcoming season, per RosterResource, and their luxury-tax obligations total more than $224MM (putting about around $23MM shy of the first-tier threshold). Signing Alonso would very likely put Boston over that line, though trades of other veterans (e.g. Yoshida, Jarren Duran) could bring that number back down to an extent.
The Orioles are a less-obvious fit, at least at first glance. Baltimore is dead-set on adding prominent help to the starting rotation and is deep in young position players. However, Coby Mayo is the heir-apparent at first base and has yet to prove that he can hit major league pitching on a consistent basis. Signing Alonso could free the Orioles to more seriously explore trading some of its crop of young bats to bring in an arm via the trade market.
That’s a rather circuitous route to improving the rotation, but if the Orioles are more comfortable betting on Alonso’s bat holding up over the long run than they are a prominent pitcher’s elbow/shoulder, it’d be a sensible enough course of action. To date, the O’s seem to be casting a wide net. They’ve been linked to Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Tatsuya Imai and Michael King, to name a few. They’re also hoping to bring in a big bat to fill out the offense — even after acquiring Taylor Ward and his 36 home runs in last month’s trade with the Angels.
Payroll-wise, there’s basically nothing that should be off limits for Baltimore this winter. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill, young catcher Samuel Basallo and newly signed closer Ryan Helsley are the only players guaranteed anything beyond the current season. The 2027 season is a player option for Helsley, however, and Basallo’s extension carries an $8.375MM annual value. His salary doesn’t climb beyond $8MM until 2031.
Alonso enjoyed a much stronger 2025 season than he did in 2024, boosting his batting line from .240/.329/.459 (121 wRC+) to a stout .272/.347/.524 line (141 wRC+). He clubbed 38 homers, lopped two percentage points off his strikeout rate (down to a roughly league-average 22.8%) and saw massive bumps in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate and barrel rate. He also has the benefit of hitting free agency without a qualifying offer this time around, given that he rejected a QO following the 2024 season and players can only receive a QO once in their careers under the system’s current rules.
See ya, Pete.
The Reds will sign after losing out on Schwarber. 5/145
I think Schwarber will return to Philly and the battle for Alonso will come down to Cinci like you say and Boston. I have him going to Boston though in the contest. Just makes too much sense imo.
I have serious doubts that the reds would go that high on the polar bear
Actually Buster Olney provided notes from the winter meetings already that there are not even any 4 year offers on the table for Alonso. Teams are looking at him as a 2-3 year investment.
Unless Boston & Cincinnati get into a true bidding war, the contract will be something like 3/80.
I would be very surprised if Alonso doesn’t get 4 years. I don’t think he will get 5, but I think the demand is enough that he will get 4. There are plenty of other teams interested.
While I would prefer the Sox get Schwarber, I think he will go for more than they are willing to spend. Alonso is likely the best second option for the power bat they are searching for.
It has to be higher than that Bregman is around 2 for 80 and Alonso is a better player
Bregman provides better defense and can play multiple positions as well as being a positive presence in the clubhouse. Alonso is destined to be a DH. Alonso does provide more power to the offense. I don’t know that one is better than the other, they just fill different needs. It will be interesting to see who gets a bigger contract.
As a Sox fan I’d offer 3/80 or 4/92 or so. Either would be fine, but you’re taking a substantial pay cut for that 4th year.
With Schwarber getting 5 years and $150 mil, we are going to come away empty handed if we try to get either Bregman or Alonso for under $100 million.
This is simply not true. Bregman actually had a higher average WAR going into the 3/120 deal that was always going to be a 1 year deal unless Bregman cratered.
Bregman
2022: 4.5
2023: 4.9
2024: 4.1
Alonso:
2022: 4.4
2023: 3.3
2024: 2.6
Bregman is the far superior all around player. Even in 2025 which was shortened by injury for Bregman, he registered a 3.5 while Alonso was a 3.4 in a full season.
Defense matters. Alonso has more pop, but Bregman is the far better player.
That 3/80 prediction didn’t age well
Nope. It didn’t. But I think the O’s got hosed on this one. If they can win in a 2-3 year timeframe, he’s a key piece. But I don’t think they are in that window yet without significant additions to the pitching staff and depth.
I’m just glad it wasn’t the Sox handing out that crazy deal. for a player who registered a 2.6 WAR as recently as 2024. I’ll take Bregman and make a move for a guy like Paredes and come out on top.
I don’t think there was a deal beyond 4/100 on the table for Pete.
It’s the kinda overpay that will only make sense if they make some more moves and really go for it. I hope they do
Alonso is not Schwarber.
And Bregman has a higher WAR than Alonso and I still wouldn’t go 5/155.
That’s my assessment.
I’m with you 100%. If they are going all in and trying to win in 2-3 years this is a big move. If not it’s a step in the right direction that will give them 3-4 WAR which is nothing.
The O’s just don’t make a lot of sense to me.
Os fan here, we absolutely need a right handed middle of the order vet in that lineup. Ward is nice, but Alonso would anchor that lineup beautifully. It also would open up Mayo to be a trade piece for one of the two starting pitchers we need. The O’s are in a position where they need consistent proven production in that lineup. Currently, they have 1/3 of next year’s lineup as unproven guys who will have some learning curves (Basallo/Beavers/Mayo). Reducing that by one spot with someone like Alonso allows a rebuilding team to give him the consistent playing time he needs to take to develop.
Even though Mountcastle was tendered a contract, it is not too late to trade him for a reliever or essentially DFA him without paying next year’s salary from what I have read. Essentially a back up plan.
Yeah I mainly said that because they tendered mountcastle. He likely has no trade value since a lot people didn’t even think he would get tendered.
The other reason is I fell like starting pitching is where they should spend at. Though they could likely trade Mayo for someone. Maybe a Keller/peralta/pivetta type.
Still see him as a better fit for the Sox or the Mets.
Very fair. A mayo trade would only fill one of the two rotation spots. So if they could trade him for one of the Pirates/Marlins pitchers and then sign a King/Kelly/Suarez for the other rotation spot, I would feel better going that route.
My thought is with the players available this offseason, the Os at best can get slightly above average with pitching. But you can turn this offense into one of the elite units in baseball with Alonso, so that’s the route I’d prefer to go.
Yeah, just depends on how much they are willing to spend.
Another Orioles fan here. Alonso signing with the O’s would make Mayo trade bait. Beavers is likely either AAA bound or trade bait. The OF currently is probably Ward, Cowser and O’Neill. Taveras probably makes the team as CF protection for when Cowser has to cover RF while O’Neill is on the IL. (It’s bound to happen.) Beavers and Mayo should make a good core of a package for a quality SP. Then they could hopefully sign a second good veteran SP. Lastly, they could use a backup IF. Ramon Urias returning makes sense. An upgrade in CF would be nice, but the CF market is a little bare.
I think the Os are counting on Jackson as the back up IF. He was dicey in the OF when he played there last season, but I think he was ok when he played in the IF.
Based on Elias’ comments yesterday, it sounds like they are considering Jackson for that super utility role but they haven’t fully decided yet. Personally, I would like them to sign like to sign like an Amed Rosario, IKF, or Jose Iglesies to fill that spot, and Jackson would have another spot on the bench.. But if his comments are true where they are planning to get another bat and a top of the rotation starter, then the budget might be getting too tight to get a guy like Rosario and they will stick with Jackson.
My guess is they are iffy on Jackson’s defense at SS, but in the case of a Gunnar injury, could always do what you did last year and put Holliday at SS.
LET’S GO O’S!!!
What about the Pirates? Alonso & Schwarber.
old- both for a combined $180-200 million.
book it!
lol
lmao, even
Unless you’re going to pay their salaries, there is no chance of that.
Man if they both went to Pittsburgh it would be a dream come true for Pirates fans.
Alonso 4/110 Schwarber 5/125. They can put my 8k toward either
I think you have the number of years correct but I think both are going to get higher annual salaries. I think there will be teams competing to sign them which will drive up the price.
Hope somebody signs soon, this off season has been so boring.
Unless you’re a Blue Jays fan.
Not sure the Red Sox are the preferred stop for Alonso. My guess is they would want him on a three (maybe, but not likely a 4) yr deal.
Seems more probably he gets 5 yrs somewhere else.
I see them giving him 4/120. I don’t think many teams will go to the 4th year and that will get it done. IMO, 5 years is in his mind only.
Issue is who is giving him 5 years. Mets don’t seem likely. The O’s? Doesn’t seem all that likely. Perhaps he gets a 5th year to lower his aav.
I could see them mirroring the Bregman contract in a sense, front load and offer opt out after 2-3 seasons on a 5 year deal. Essentially a 2 yr $80 mil with the option of 3 year $60 mil for instance.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if Alonzo is this years Kris Bryant, and ends up on the mystery team for total guarantee.
The Bregman contract had opt-outs after every season
I don’t think Alonso is interested in opt-outs. He just wants a contract that will carry him into retirement. Maybe go to the playoffs a couple times on a contending team.
He should have thought of that last year.
Besides Devers, The Sox haven’t paid or bought a multi-year contract that would take a position player past the age of 34 since 2018. A 4yr deal would mean he’s playing out the last year at age 34.
In this case they most likely will end up being a DH before the end of the contract. I don’t think they will be overly concerned about a 34 year old DH. Power bats should hold up into their mid thirties if they stay in shape. Look at what Ortiz was doing into his early forties.
All signs point to a Murakami signing. Let me explain. In the last 24hrs the Red Sox have; cried poverty, been linked to acquiring an aging 2B with a $100m+ contract that would require sending major league players and/or propects, had a zoom meeting with Bichette, will be having an in-person sit-down with Alonso, and Breslow stating he wants a home run hitter for the middle of the order. But let’s keep in mind that besides Devers, The Sox haven’t paid or bought a multi-year contract that would take a position player past the age of 34 since 2018.. So that leaves the 25yr Murakami left as the only fit.. Maybe Bichette but not if he wants more then 6yrs
I would think the only way they sign Murakami is if they can get him cheap. He is young and has the potential to be a power bat, but he is unproven and has some definite question marks about his ability to hit MLB pitching. I would consider him a big gamble, so would much rather see them get a proven bat. Just because they have not committed to someone who will be in their mid thirties at the end of their contract doesn’t mean they are not going to do so for the right player.
It’s their team philosophy. Breslow understands that and isn’t going against it because he can’t.
Alonso’s wife is from Quincy, MA. They met while he was playing in the Cape Cod Summer League. So there’s that.
Yep , there’s that. But does that affect Baseball negotiations ? Nope. He will go to whoever offer the highest TOTAL deal be it Boston ,Baltimore or the North Pole Penguins, FA is about dollars and security .
I was replying to:
“Not sure the Red Sox are the preferred stop for Alonso.”
Not sure why you would think what I said had anything to do with “negotiations”.
———
I have no idea what motivates Alonso. But, to reply to your point: Many players have chosen destination over squeezing out the last dollar in free agency. All FAs arent the same.
I can see Schwarber getting 5, but I think Alonso is more likely to get 4. It seems like this is the time for the Sox to put their money where their mouth is and get the power bat they need. They really need two assuming Bregman is not coming back, but the second will likely be through trade or the second tier of free agents. Would be unfortunate if they don’t get either. Ideally Schwarber and get rid of Yoshida in a package, but I think they are much more likely to get Alonso.
Alonso is precisely the type of RH power bat the Orioles should have signed last offseason (instead of O’Neill) and it would make sense for them to pursue him now as well.
Sign him, sign Imai and then utilize Mayo/Mountcastle/Heston/any other young talent needed to bring another starter who is controlled beyond this season (Alcantara, Gore, or even a guy like Pablo Lopez, etc)
If the Red Sox sign him do I get half a point for guessing that last year? lol.
Youre right! Last year was the year to sign him.
I went back to look at my posts, I begged Breslow all of December to sign Alonso………..
Would have cost them a draft pick last year
Pedro – ok, but he could’ve been had for 3yrs and considerably less money last year
the guy hit 38 bombs and 126 rbi’s,
last year the Red Sox were 15th in home runs
With a farm system that was already stacked the Sox can’t worry about a pick that may/may not be a player in 5 years
Clearly he couldn’t have otherwise someone else would have signed him. Instead he opted for essentially what Bregman took, a short term contract with an opt-out after a year
Pedro – the wife is a big Mets fan, Pete wanted to break the Mets homerun record, which he did.
His market was somewhat depressed because of the QO., and a down 2024. The Blue Jays offered him a lowball 3yr deal.
Boras, for all his faults, can play these GM’s like a fiddle. He got his clients, Begman and Alonso, overpays on one year deals. They each made so much last year, that without the QO this year the are almost assured to make more on their longer term deals this year.
Breslow will get Alonso signed to a 4yr $120m deal ($28 per with a $8m signing bonus). Then he will make a trade for C.J. Abrams to play 2B. Then it will be very quiet until late January.
The Casas/Romy platoon idea gives me indigestion. That would be such a bogus approach to 1B. That would mean they’d have to bring Bregman back or get Bichette. And they’d still be without a true HR guy.
Jon Heyman is Boras’ hype man.
Hard to imagine Alonso spending the rest of his career on a below-average team.
Alonso is not leaving NY no matter how much so else offers. He’s not leaving and Kyle probably stays in Philly. However Alonso in Boston would be scary.
He might set a doubles record in Boston with all those low flying lasers he hits. The wall could also screw up his swing.
I wonder if the Orioles going to move the left field fence in to help lure Alonzo?
He doesn’t need the fence moved, he is one of the few players who has enough power that he’ll get it over that fence no matter where it’s put
The fence was moved in before last season!!!
I know that, I interpreted the comment from ACamp as suggesting that they would move it again to lure Alonso.
Hopefully the tinkering with the dimensions is done and permanent now moving forward.
I really don’t see Boston signing any of the big bats! Breslow does not have the guts or permission to go all in. I personally would throw money at Bichette before anyone else.
I think if he gets close to his asking price that would leave boston out of the bidding.
Pete signing with the Orioles would be a huge win for them.
I think it makes more sense for the Orioles to reunite with O’Hearn and go with him and Mounty at 1B and make their big FA signing a SP.
I think they want to do both!
I am pretty sure Alonso feels a bit disrespected by the last year. Which is his prerogative. They didn’t want to go past three years last year and won’t again this year.
His buddy Nimmo is gone with McNeil hopefully on the way out. Different sheriff and deputies in town.
I can understand the Met’s hesitation. Take a look at the splits after mid to late May.
@Jdawginsc It’s a great point. Alonso’s entire 2025 season was fueled by the luckiest first five weeks a man can have, after which his line was .253/311/485 in 549 PA from May 6 to the end of the year—worth just 1.3 bWAR for five months.
He fluked into a 371 BABIP before reverting to a more typical .286 for the rest of the year.
Anyone who gives Alonso 4/$120m deserves to be punished for such idiocy, and such a failure to do basic research. Give the man a literal fortune solely because he had a lucky April? That team deserves what it gets, never mind the blatant imbecility of paying $30m a year to a 2 bWAR 1Bman across 2023-2025, neutralized for luck.
My preference for the o’s would be shwarber, which would likely necessitate opening up the dh spot via trade of rutschman. Signing polar bear probably means a mayo trade, who I’m still intrigued by but I’m not sure how willing the organization is to wait for it all to click. He made some good strides to end the season but who knows?
Rutsch should not be going anywhere, there is a decent gap between he and Samuel’s defense behind the dish. At catcher defense is number 1 priority. In the case of Schwarbs, I agree that Mayo is traded, Rutsch stays, and than Basallo shares his time similar to Ben Rice of the yankees. Mountcastle then becomes a platoon bench piece in that scenario I would assume, but also wouldnt be surprised if they try to get O’Neill or Ward to learn a little first base as a back up option.
Ya can’t have too many first basemen.
@saj Anyone who signs Alonso will still be short a first baseman. Bottom 8th percentile or worse by OAA, FRV, Arm, you name it.
He took out Senga with an absurd lob to 1B, effectively ending his season, and nearly did it again to Nolan McLean—and instead of being embarrassed by events Alonso insists that he’s primarily a 1Bman.
John Henry didn’t just dump Devers to sign Pete.
I do think the Red Sox would be a logical landing spot for Alonzo. He would tee off on the wall and the Sox need to land a big name slugger to keep asses in seats and eyes on the tv. Albeit I have no idea what is actually happening in the administration behind the scenes. End of the day they care about making money first and winning second. I can’t say I blame them for having that strategy but as a fan it’s extremely annoying.
Could
To much Drama in NY(Lindor hates McNeil, Soto and Lindor cant co exist), Alonso will be raking with the sox next year! The Mets are a lost cause no matter how much money Ol Steve has…they have no pitching and are going to loose their big bopper!
And they’re buried for as long as Stearns and Mendoza are running the team into the ground. It’s likely to get uglier.
Alonzo at 1b DH as a RHBat would be great for the Sox, mentor Casas and let the beast play out. You must find out what TC has before trading him for chop liver. I think someone just needs to tell Casas he isn’t there for a .420 OBP but 42 Bombs‼️ screw all his other stats…you are there to leave the yard bruh‼️ As for Bregman sign him at 3b unless Boris is insane with the ask. Bregman’s HOF career ends in Boston or not at all. His choice. Don’t be stupid Breg, you know where the rings are coming to soon enough‼️