With Schwarber off the board, Boston’s pursuit of Pete Alonso has shifted from exploratory to urgent -and industry rumblings suggest the Red Sox may be pushing harder than anyone else right now.
Tuesday’s baseball news cycle was dominated by free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber opting to re-sign with the Phillies, reportedly agreeing to terms on a five-year deal worth $150 million.
Schwarber was someone Boston fans had coveted since he left the Red Sox after a half-season on the roster in 2021, where he was one of the biggest reasons why the team went on a run to Game 6 of the ALCS against the Astros.
With his bat no longer available for Boston on the open market, they now turn their complete attention to first baseman Pete Alonso, who was reportedly slated to be meeting in person with Boston on Tuesday.
MassLive’s Chris Cotillo posted on X on Tuesday afternoon that Alonso and the Red Sox met on Zoom recently, and are in the process of trying to schedule an in-person sit-down in Orlando.
“Person with knowledge of the bidding says it would be surprising for a deal (with any club) to come together by the end of the week but, as always, only takes one call,” Cotillo added.
Regardless of when this meeting is happening, the smoke is beginning to build for Alonso with the Red Sox.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post added fuel to that fire on Tuesday afternoon on his live stream with Bleacher Report.
Here’s what the veteran insider had to say:
“He's coming here, we know that. And the Red Sox are going to meet with him, and the Orioles are going to meet with him. I'm told there are other teams, I don't know who those other teams are. I don't think it's the Mets - the Mets said they feel like they know Alonso, [and] I think Alonso feels the same. I'm not reading anything negative into that, [but the other team] better be the Mets.
“Although, I'm hearing some more buzz that the Red Sox are pretty doggone serious about this. I know the Red Sox liked Schwarber, and obviously didn't get Schwarber. Alonso is a better fit. Right-handed bat, got the Green Monster, their best hitters are left handed. You know, I think they're a real threat. And the Mets - I have guys coming up to me [saying], ‘Why are the Mets letting this linger again with Alonzo another time?’ And it's a little bit odd. It really is. He's their all-time leader in home runs.”
This latest nugget from Heyman, along with Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe’s note from Saturday, have Red Sox fans positively buzzing about the idea of adding Alonso to a lineup in desperate need of power.
Here’s what Abraham said over the weekend:
“Pete Alonso seems like a perfect fit for the Sox. He’s a righthanded hitting first baseman with tremendous power who thrived in a big market. His wife, Haley, is a Boston native who grew up in Quincy. The couple met when Alonso was playing in the Cape Cod League. Alonso has told friends the Sox are high on his list.”
Abraham went on to say Alonso is projected to land a four-or-five-year deal worth somewhere in the ballpark of $28 million a year. Both the contract term and the dollar amount are lower than originally anticipated, especially when compared to similar contracts given to first basemen in recent years, and neither figure comes out of thin air from a reporter of Abraham’s caliber.
With the Winter Meetings here, some level-setting appears to be underway between Alonso and his representatives.
As recently as last Monday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan said this on Threads about Alonso’s free agency:
“Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso: Both were free agents last winter. Both produced well. Both opted out of deals that didn’t reach expectations. And now both are faced with trying to get contracts that better align with their numbers. With the number of teams seeking a middle-of-the-order bat, the chances are good, though both are waiting for a team to step to the forefront.”
Alonso’s projected contracts have varied, with previous reports suggesting $150-$210 million over five to seven years.
Could Alonso’s willingness to sign a shorter-term deal at a lower dollar amount signal that the 30-year-old recognizes Fenway Sports Group’s self-imposed spending limits and wants to be in Boston badly enough to leave money on the table?
If Alonso signs under these terms, could that free the front office to focus on re-signing Alex Bregman to the long-term deal he’s seeking and strengthen the team’s core?
As we all know, this ownership group can afford to spend like drunken sailors if they’d like. They just choose not to.
If Alonso is committed to Boston and values a winning roster, this could finalize the deal before spring training.
Abraham notes that Alonso doesn’t fully align with the team-building philosophy Craig Breslow and Alex Cora have outlined, as both want the Red Sox to be stronger defensively, more athletic, and to feature a versatile lineup. They have also repeatedly emphasized the value of multiple players at DH.
Still, the team would likely find a way to utilize Alonso’s 6-foot-3 frame and 23.3 career WAR.
Appearing in all 162 games for the second consecutive season, Alonso’s league-leading 41 doubles paired beautifully with 38 homers and 126 RBI for the Mets in his seventh major league season, his fifth as an All-Star. He finished 2025 with the highest batting average of his career at .272 and the second-highest OPS at .871.
That’ll play for a lineup that ran out of gas last October at Yankee Stadium.
Alonso, a two-time Home Run Derby champion, has 11 homers, 27 hits, 31 RBI, and 23 runs in 32 career games against the Yankees.
He’s unafraid of the pinstripes.
He’s a fan of the Boston area.
His wife grew up less than 10 miles from Fenway Park.
He’s seemingly willing to take a little bit less money than originally reported.
The Red Sox have outright said they’re poised to invest in bats over arms.
It’s all making too much sense.It’s time for the “Interest Kings” to get more than interested in “Polar Bear.”
Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.