The New York Yankees will have the potential to steal a superstar-caliber slugger from their crosstown rivals. Pete Alonso, the Mets’ first baseman, is set to enter free agency next winter rather than sign a contract extension, according to team president of baseball operations David Stearns on Tuesday.
As a result, Bleacher Report recently compiled a list of prospective destinations for Alonso in free agency next year, with the Yankees mentioned as a possible contender.
While the Yankees presently have Anthony Rizzo at first base, he is coming off a season in which he was limited by concussion-related ailments. He also has a club option, which the Yankees may decline after this season. Not to add, Alonso would be a significant upgrade in the position.
Since entering the league in 2019, no player has more home runs or RBIs than Alonso. The 29-year-old has swiftly established himself as one of the game’s top power hitters, as well as a franchise cornerstone for the Mets. And, while the Mets did not spend much this summer, they will have a considerable amount of money off the books in 2025, which they can use to keep their young homegrown star in Queens for the foreseeable future.
The Yankees are interested in Alonso, but their primary attention will most likely be on retaining another superstar, outfielder Juan Soto. At the winter meetings in December, the Yankees made a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres to obtain Soto. Soto is entering his final year of arbitration and is anticipated to test the waters in free agency, where he might land a deal worth $500-600 million.
