The New York Mets have a specific focus this offseason: improve defensively and load up on pitching.
New York has already made moves to check those boxes by trading left fielder Brandon Nimmo, a below-average defender, to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien, a good defender, and signing right-handed closer Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million deal.
They are far from done making moves, but the biggest move they make could be not making a move in reference to their top free agent.
Star slugging first baseman Pete Alonso opted out of his contract with the Mets and has elected to test free agency. He hit the market last season, but interest levels around the league were slim and he returned to New York on a short-term deal. Alonso is an amazing hitter and has arguably been the best-hitting first baseman in baseball since his debut in 2019.
The problem with Alonso is that he struggles defensively. Mets brass wants to get better on that front, making it more unlikely that we see Alonso back in a Mets uniform. In fact, ESPN’s Jorge Castillo predicts that Alonso will sign with the Boston Red Sox this offseason.
“Pete Alonso will probably wait until Kyle Schwarber decides on his destination, but I predict Alonso will sign with the Red Sox,” Castillo wrote Monday. “Craig Breslow, Boston's chief baseball officer, has been clear about his desire to acquire a right-handed slugger for the middle of the order. Not many players are better qualified for that role than the right-handed-hitting Alonso, whose 264 home runs since his debut in 2019 are the third most in baseball behind Aaron Judge and Schwarber.
“Alonso is coming off a rebound All-Star season in which he clubbed 38 home runs with 126 RBIs, an NL-leading 41 doubles and an .871 OPS for the Mets. Defensively, Alonso is below average, but he could split time with Triston Casas at first base and designated hitter.”
The fit is there for Boston, who already have a solid defender in Triston Casas at first base when healthy. This would create an interesting dynamic, though, because Alonso likes to play first base every day. Those close to Alonso believe he’s interested in this pairing and it would make a lot of sense for the Red Sox.
“The Mets, on the other hand, are determined to improve their defense and would seemingly be in play for Alonso only if his market collapses for the second straight offseason.”
It’s not set in stone that Alonso leaves, but all signs point to a mutual disconnect after several seasons coming up short. I’m with the experts and say he won’t be a Met in 2026.