New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made his Pete Alonso intentions clear without even actually mentioning the All-Star first baseman.
The New York Yankees seem pretty set at first base when it comes to Ben Rice, and yet, there has been strange speculation that the Yankees could pursue Pete Alonso in free agency.
If New York really plans on keeping Rice, then why the Alonso rumors? The Yanks definitely aren't paying Alonso big money just to platoon him, so that isn't happening. So unless the Yankees are either trading Rice or moving him behind the plate and jettisoning Austin Wells, Alonso almost certainly isn't coming to the Bronx.
General manager Brian Cashman essentially put the kibosh on any speculation that New York could go after Alonso in the coming weeks, affirming that Rice is the team's starting first baseman heading into 2026.
"I have Wells is our catcher, and him (Rice) at first, but, again, you never know how the winds of change blow here every winter. And they'll be challenge trades made to us or by us, and most will lead nowhere, with one team insulting the other, vice versa. More likely than not, I see him at first base, without a doubt," Cashman said, via SNY.
Cashman didn't rule out potential trades, but why would he? No one outside of Aaron Judge is untouchable, so Cashman would be silly to cut himself off at the knees by saying that the Yankees wouldn't entertain trade discussions for Rice or Wells.
But clearly, Alonso is not on New York's radar. The only way that could change is if the Yanks traded Wells, which would allow the Yankees to make Rice — who caught in the minor leagues and spent time behind the plate in 2025 — their backstop, thus freeing up first base for Alonso.
Even then, though, it seems hard to imagine Cashman — and Hal Steinbrenner — wanting to spend big bucks on Alonso when New York also has to worry about re-signing Cody Bellinger and repairing the pitching staff, both in the starting rotation and the bullpen.
Could Alonso be a last-ditch resort if Bellinger bolts and Kyle Tucker ultimately signs elsewhere? Maybe, but even then, it just doesn't seem like the type of move the Yankees would make. Not in 2025.
Alonso turns 31 years old next month, and while he enjoyed a terrific campaign this past season (particularly during the first half), it's important to remember that he showed some serious signs of decline in 2024, and he is terrible defensively.
It just seems difficult to fathom the Yanks committing to Alonso over the course of five, six or even seven years (depending on his market) at $150-200 million.
The moral of the story? Rice posted an .836 OPS while smashing 26 home runs and registering 65 RBI this past season, so there is no reason to move off of him. Period.