The first baseman market this off-season has been nothing short of a whirlwind. The deals have been struck left and right; Christian Walker and Josh Bell secured contracts, and that narrowed down the pool of options. Bell signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals, and this move was significant. Not just for him, but also for Pete Alonso, given the Nationals were a potential landing spot for the Mets star. With that, now as the new year approaches, one of the biggest names in the off-season remains unsigned.
By now, everyone is questioning: Why isn’t Alonso signed with the Mets already? But Jon Heyman reported that there is a sizeable gap between what Alonso is expecting and what the Mets are offering. But that’s an understatement because the gap is monstrous. Alonso and Scott Boras, his agent, are hunting for a $200 million deal. The offer by the Mets—a meager—$90 million. Other teams could step in for the star, but sadly, even those doors are closing. The Boston Red Sox might be out of the race effectively, as per the news reported by Gabrielle Starr of The Boston Herald.
No place for Pete Alonso in Boston
Scott Boras and Pete Alonso find themselves locked in another dead end—this time with the Boston Red Sox. Starr reported that Red Sox GM Craig Breslow has made it clear, “We’re not shopping Triston.” Now Triston Casas is their 24-year-old first baseman. And with him holding down the position in Boston, Pete Alonso has no place on the team, unless, of course, the team gets him as a designated hitter.
Craig Breslow on Triston Casas trade rumors:
“We’re not shopping Triston.”
— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) December 30, 2024
However, a DH role for Alonso seems quite a stretch. So, now with the Boston Red Sox out of the race, Alonso’s options are narrowing even further. The real kicker is that he would have never been in this position at all had he taken the offer by the New York Mets earlier. The team had offered $158 million for six years to him. But Scott Boras, who might have judged the market wrong, aimed for Alonso to clinch $200 million and north.
Now that the Mets slapped a $90 million contract on it, it’s a far cry from the number they wanted. And it seems like Scott Boras, the man known for making a blockbuster deal, is panicking. At least that’s what FanSided’s Cody Williams thinks. Jon Heyman had specified recently that the Mets and Alonso need to sign soon. This ‘push’ by a renowned journalist, for Williams, is a red flag that Boras is panicking.
“Thus, getting a respected columnist and insider such as Heyman to urge the Mets to get something done quickly feels like Boras and Alonso could, in theory, be panicking a bit in this situation…” said Williams. Given last year Scott Boras overplayed his hand on several players like Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, and more, it makes sense he would be nervous.
Is ‘Polar Bear’ off to San Francisco?
However, just as one door closes, another opens. So it seems like not all hope is lost on Pete Alonso and his signing. The fresh new name making it to his sweepstakes is San Francisco Giants. After missing out on Corbin Burnes, who surprisingly joined the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Giants are looking to Alonso. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle said, “The Giants remain in the market for a first baseman or DH, too, and Pete Alonso is on their radar.” Fresh off a stellar 2024 season with 34 home runs and 88 RBIs, Pete Alonso is a catch for the team.
Mets podcaster Ryan Finkelstein also talked about this potential move on his podcast Locked on Mets. “If you looked at the market… the best free agent that fits their needs might just be Pete Alonso. He would give the Giants the type of power they desperately need in the middle of their lineup.” Not just that, he even mentioned that the San Francisco Giants offer to Pete Alonso could be just what’s needed now strategically.
Finkelstein suggests that the Giants offering a good rate could result in the Mets countering a higher AAV to keep their star slugger. “Does that mean that Pete Alonso wants to play for the Giants? Not necessarily, but this is what Scott Boras and Pete Alonso need to get the offer they want from the New York Mets.” Well, it seems like it’s the perfect leverage for Alonso and Scott Boras.
Scott Boras has a lot on the line; he is already being pointed at for overreaching and overestimating the market. Now, it remains to be seen if he comes with another mastermind deal. What do you think will happen? Share below.
The post Scott Boras’ Situation Worsens After a Potential Pete Alonso Suitor Drops Out of Race After Its 1st Base Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.
