Pete Alonso: Where Will the “Polar Bear” Play in 2026?
A year after several MLB teams didn’t offer him a long-term contract he considered adequate, Pete Alonso returns to the free agent market seeking to secure his future. After a period of negotiations, Alonso agreed in February to a two-year, $54 million contract with the New York Mets, with an opt-out after the 2025 season. He received $30 million this year and his numbers were enough to justify the opt-out, which he announced immediately after the Mets lost their last regular season game against the Miami Marlins, missing the playoffs.
Alonso’s chances of finding a team that offers him a long-term contract are greater this time, for several reasons. The main one is his significantly improved performance. In 2024, Alonso had his worst season, with a batting average of .240/.329/.459 and 34 home runs. Although it was an acceptable production, it was his fourth consecutive season with declining numbers, a worrying trend considering that Alonso was about to turn 30 and did not provide value in defense or on the bases.
Despite metrics suggesting Alonso was still one of the worst defensive first basemen in baseball in 2025 – with -9 defensive runs saved and -9 outs above average – he had a remarkable recovery at the plate. With an adjustment to his swing and approach, Alonso hit the ball harder, reaching an average exit velocity of 93.5 mph, the highest of his career, and the production followed. He batted .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs, primarily batting behind Juan Soto. His 141 wRC+ was the second-highest of his career. Furthermore, he set the franchise home run record, solidifying his place as one of the most beloved Mets in recent history.
It’s also important to note that Alonso played all 162 games for the second consecutive season and has participated in 1,008 of the Mets’ 1,032 regular season games since his debut in 2019. He has started in 993 of those games at first base and 60 as a designated hitter.
In that period, his 264 career home runs place him in third place in baseball, behind only Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, another prominent free agent. Alonso is recognized for his durability and consistency.
Furthermore, the market is favorable. Alonso and Schwarber are the main power hitters available in free agency this offseason. At first base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s decision to sign a 14-year, $500 million extension with Toronto in April eliminated his strongest competitor at that position. Josh Naylor is at a lower level and is a different player, with less power but better defense and performance on the bases. The retention of Seattle’s first baseman eliminates an option for other teams.
Considering all this, Alonso is expected to get a contract of between four and five years. The question is where he will play. Here are some possible destinations for the five-time All-Star, starting with the three teams that have shown the most interest so far, including the only team he has known.
New York Mets
Mets’ president of baseball operations David Stearns stated he “would love” to bring back Alonso and closer Edwin Díaz, another All-Star free agent. Alonso’s willingness to serve as a designated hitter, at least part-time, is a positive factor as the Mets prioritize improving a defense that regressed in 2025.
“He’s clearly a very good offensive player,” Stearns said at the general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas. “And I think for any team, the ability to have his bat in the lineup in multiple ways is helpful. And it’s great to know that Pete is open to that.”
David Stearns
However, the Mets’ main priority in the offseason is pitching, both in the rotation and the bullpen, and they have internal options for first base and designated hitter in the short and long term. Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and Jeff McNeil could play first base. Juan Soto, after a poor defensive year in right field, will eventually play as designated hitter. Furthermore, Stearns’ unwillingness to offer Alonso what he wanted last winter indicates that he prefers not to make that investment in him.
The Mets haven’t had anyone other than Alonso start at first base on Opening Day since Adrián González began a brief 54-game stint to conclude his career in 2018. A year later, Alonso debuted and hit 54 home runs, being named National League Rookie of the Year. He became a fan favorite in Queens during his seven seasons. However, he could be in another uniform in 2026.
Boston Red Sox
Production at first base in 2025: .244/.305/.386, 16 HR, 86 wRC+, -0.7 fWAR
- Primary first base: Abraham Toro (57 starts), Romy Gonzalez (41), Triston Casas (27), Nathaniel Lowe (26)
Production as a designated hitter in 2025: .272/.361/.465, 26 HR, 125 wRC+, 2.5 fWAR
- Top Designated Hitters: Rafael Devers (73), Masataka Yoshida (44), Rob Refsnyder (18), Roman Anthony (17)
Most of Boston’s designated hitter production last season came from Devers before he was traded in June. First base was a major problem, starting with Casas’ slow start and worsening when he lost the season to a knee injury in early May. The logical choice to replace him, Devers, declined the assignment, leading Boston to send him to San Francisco.
Toro, Gonzalez, and Lowe, who was hired in August, handled the task for the rest of the season. Toro was designated for assignment in August. Lowe suffered the same fate on Tuesday.
Red Sox’s president of baseball operations, Craig Breslow, has made it clear that he wants to acquire an experienced middle-of-the-order hitter, preferably right-handed. The Devers trade, combined with Alex Bregman’s free agency, has left the Red Sox without much proven power in their lineup. A meeting with Bregman would solve that need, as would signing Alonso, who could split time at first base and as a designated hitter with Casas if Boston were to keep him.
Do the Red Sox have the budget for both free agents? The Devers trade freed up $29.1 million from the competitive balance tax for each of the next eight years. The Red Sox had approximately $98 million of their relatively modest $201 million competitive balance tax budget off the books after the season. Their 2026 payroll is projected to include more than $50 million in salary increases, but Boston is a large-market club with plenty of money to meet its needs.
Cincinnati Reds
Production at first base in 2025: .252/.318/.445, 29 HR, 107 wRC+, 2.0 fWAR
- First batters on first base: Spencer Steer (113 starts), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (25)
Production as a designated hitter in 2025: .240/.313/.407, 21 HR, 96 wRC+, -0.2 fWAR
- Primary designated hitters: Gavin Lux (57 starts), Austin Hays (38), Miguel Andujar (20), Tyler Stephenson (17), Steer (16)
The Reds finished 14th in the league in runs scored, but their collective wRC+ of 92, a metric that adjusts for park factors and league context, placed them 24th. The Reds know there is room for improvement playing half their games at Great American Ball Park, a hitter’s paradise, so they are looking to strengthen their offense.
The first base and designated hitter are not obvious needs. Spencer Steer hit 21 home runs in 146 games. Sal Stewart, who turns 22 next month, will be a more important part of the calculation after posting a 121 OPS+ in his first 18 career games. But Alonso resides on another level. Like Schwarber, a Cincinnati area native.
Now, the economic part. Signing any of these power hitters would require the largest free agent contract in franchise history; the current high mark is the two four-year, $64 million contracts awarded to Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas in 2020. It is estimated that the Reds will have a $120 million competitive balance tax payroll for next season after finishing with a $143 million payroll in 2025, the highest since 2021. That projection includes expected increases. If investing in a top-tier free agent is too expensive, or if they simply decide to play elsewhere, the Reds could get a cheaper alternative in the trade market by negotiating from the depth of their starting rotation.
Philadelphia Phillies
Production at first base in 2025: .262/.351/.479, 32 HR, 128 wRC+, 3.9 fWAR
- First batters on first base: Bryce Harper (130 starts)
Production as a designated hitter in 2025: .238/.362/.566, 57 HR, 152 wRC+, 5.1 fWAR
- Primary designated hitters: Kyle Schwarber (154 starts)
With Bryce Harper on first base, Alonso would likely only make sense for the Phillies if they don’t re-sign Schwarber, the best designated hitter in the majors after Shohei Ohtani. But Phillies owner John Middleton isn’t afraid to spend money, and the team could make both Alonso and Schwarber work by moving Harper back to the outfield. Offensively, Alonso’s right-handed bat makes sense, as the Phillies are expected to get rid of Nick Castellanos, catcher J.T. Realmuto is a free agent, and Alec Bohm is a candidate for a trade.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Production at first base in 2025: .246/.323/.411, 18 HR, 103 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR
- First batters on first base: Spencer Horwitz (93 starts), Enmanuel Valdez (22)
Production as a designated hitter in 2025: .238/.328/.390, 19 HR, 98 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR
- Primary designated hitters: Andrew McCutchen (120 starts), Bryan Reynolds (34)
This is a remote possibility, but the Pirates want to spend money on improving their offense to complement a solid pitching staff led by Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes. Like the A’s last winter in their quest to improve their starting rotation, that could require overpaying for an impact bat. The price of doing business.
Baltimore Orioles
Production at first base in 2025: .243/.310/.369, 14 HR, 92 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR
- First basemen to reach first base: Coby Mayo (67 starts), Ryan Mountcastle (50), Ryan O’Hearn (39)
Production as a designated hitter in 2025: .221/.296/.380, 22 HR, 90 wRC+, -0.5 fWAR
- Primary designated hitters: Mountcastle (33 starts), O’Hearn (31), Adley Rutschman (18), Jordan Westburg (16), Tyler O’Neill (13)
In general manager meetings, Orioles general manager Mike Elias said he wanted to add a power hitter, preferably an outfielder, this offseason. The acquisition of Taylor Ward for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez on Tuesday fulfilled that goal. But they could always add more power and Alonso would give them plenty.
Toronto Blue Jays
Production as a designated hitter in 2025: .282/.354/.484, 34 HR, 133 wRC+, 3.6 fWAR
- Top designated hitters: George Springer (80 starts), Anthony Santander (30), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (24)
This fit isn’t perfect, but the Blue Jays could lose right-handed hitter Bo Bichette in free agency this winter and Alonso could serve as a replacement. The Blue Jays expressed interest in Alonso last winter, but that was when Guerrero’s future was very uncertain. We’re not even going to bother listing first base as a possibility for Alonso in Toronto because that’s Guerrero’s job for a long time. Springer enjoyed a resurgence season primarily as Toronto’s designated hitter, so he would have to return to the outfield to make room for Alonso.
