Slugging first baseman Pete Alonso is a free agent for the second year in a row, hoping to sign the long-term deal that eluded him last winter, ultimately returning to the New York Mets.
Since debuting in 2019, Alonso’s 264 homers trail only Aaron Judge (285) and Kyle Schwarber (268) over the last seven seasons. Now a 30-year-old veteran, Alonso has been an All-Star five times and holds the Mets franchise record with 264 home runs.
Will the Mets commit to their homegrown ‘Polar Bear’ long-term or will he have a new home for 2026?
Here’s a look at some of the top landing spots for Alonso this winter:
New York Mets
The Mets were hesitant to commit a multi-year deal to Alonso last winter coming off the worst season of his career, but things should be different this time around. Now the team’s all-time home run king, Alonso is beloved in New York and there’s not really any baseball reasons for the Mets not to bring back one of the greatest players in franchise history.
David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations, may not be a fan of committing big money to a first baseman, but Alonso is an institution and his departure would not be well received among fans or teammates.
‘Pete is a great Met. He had a fantastic year,’ Stearns said at the end of the 2025 season. ‘I said this last year, and it worked out – I’d love to have Pete back, and we’ll see where the offseason goes.’
Boston Red Sox
Alex Bregman should be the priority, but Alonso is really a perfect fit in Boston. Red Sox first basemen managed just 16 home runs in 2025 using a slew of guys after Triston Casas went down for the season.
Alonso would guarantee Boston the annual 30 homers and 100 RBIs it traded away in Rafael Devers and be a fabulous veteran mentor for the Class of 2025 (Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell).
Casas is still only 25 years old and under team control through 2028, but the Red Sox have the rare opportunity to sign one of the premier power hitters in baseball in Alonso. Alex Cora could use him as the primary designated hitter, further extending what could be an elite lineup – especially if Bregman comes back, too.
New York Yankees
Ben Rice very much earned himself the Yankees’ first base job for 2026 but Alonso could be a high-level backup plan for the Bombers if things don’t break their way with Cody Bellinger and/or Kyle Tucker.
Outfield is a bigger need in the Bronx right now and GM Brian Cashman has expressed his comfort with Rice at first but generational sluggers like Alonso don’t come along very often. Surely Aaron Judge would appreciate the support.
Baltimore Orioles
Until owner David Rubenstein actually breaks open the piggybank for the first time, this is all hypothetical for the Orioles.
Baltimore’s first basemen ranked last in the majors with 14 home runs and Alonso is the type of addition that could revitalize the Orioles project that stalled out in 2025 and faces existential questions about the team’s core despite postseason appearances in 2023 and 2024.
But Camden Yards is now one of the worst parks in baseball for right-handed hitters and Alonso could hesitate to put himself in a stadium that may drastically lower his productivity.
Cincinnati Reds
If you can’t beat them, join them? The Reds edged the Mets for the NL’s final wild card spot on the last day of the season and are expected to be in the market for a big bat this winter.
Great American Ball Park is a home run factory and Alonso would thrive statistically along the Ohio River, but are the Reds prepared to swim in waters this deep? The largest free agent contracts the franchise has ever issued were $64 million deals to Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos. Alonso will probably command twice that much this offseason.
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