Pete Alonso to the market: MLB teams bidding for the slugger.

Pete Alonso: Where Will the “Polar Bear” Play in 2026?

A year after several MLB teams didn’t offer him a long-term contract, Pete Alonso returns to the free agent market seeking a deal that will ensure him stability. After a period of negotiations, Alonso agreed in February to a two-year, $54 million contract with the New York Mets, with the option to opt out after the 2025 season. He met expectations and opted out, a plan he announced immediately after the Mets lost their last regular season game. Alonso’s chances of finding a team that offers him a long-term contract are greater this time. He comes from a remarkably solid season, after a less brilliant 2024, where he batted .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs. Although the production was good, the statistics showed a decrease for the fourth consecutive season, which generated concern. However, in 2025, Alonso proved his worth. With an adjustment in his swing and approach, Alonso connected with the ball with more force, reaching an average exit velocity of 93.5 mph, the highest of his career. He batted .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs, playing primarily behind Juan Soto. His wRC+ of 141 was the second highest of his career. In addition, he set a franchise home run record, solidifying his position as one of the most beloved players by the Mets fans. Another relevant fact is 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. In that period, his 264 home runs place him third in the league, behind Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, also a free agent. Alonso is synonymous with durability and consistency. The market also plays in his favor. Alonso and Schwarber are the most prominent power hitters available in free agency this offseason. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s decision to sign a 14-year, $500 million extension with Toronto in April eliminated his main competitor at first base. Josh Naylor, although with less power, but better defensively, does not represent a direct threat. In short, Alonso could secure a four- to five-year contract. The question is: where will he play?

Possible Destinations

We analyze some possible teams for the five-time All-Star, starting with his three most aggressive suitors so far, including the only team he has known.

New York Mets

Mets’ president of baseball operations David Stearns expressed his desire to bring back Alonso and closer Edwin Díaz, another All-Star free agent. Alonso’s willingness to be a designated hitter, at least part-time, is a plus for the Mets, who are looking to improve their defense.

“He’s a really 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 things like that.”

David Stearns

However, the Mets’ priority 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, could eventually be used as a designated hitter. Furthermore, Stearns’ unwillingness to offer Alonso what he wanted last winter indicates that he might not be willing to invest so much in him. The Mets haven’t had anyone other than Alonso start at first base on Opening Day since Adrián González played 54 games in 2018. A year later, Alonso debuted and hit 54 home runs, being named National League Rookie of the Year. He became an idol in Queens during his seven seasons, but could find himself 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 elite bat in the middle of the order, 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 could be an option. Signing Alonso, who could split time at first base and as a designated hitter with Casas if Boston keeps him, would also be an option.

Do the Red Sox have the ability to sign both free agents? The Devers trade freed up $29.1 million from the competitive balance tax payroll for each of the next eight years. The Red Sox had approximately $98 million of their modest $201 million competitive balance tax payroll come off their books after the season. Their 2026 payroll is projected to include more than $50 million in 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

• Primary 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 Andújar (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, ranked 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, as does Schwarber, a Cincinnati area native. Now, the money part. Signing any of these 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. The Reds are estimated to have a competitive balance tax payroll of $120 million 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 everyone simply decides to play elsewhere, the Reds could get a cheaper alternative in the trade market by negotiating with the depth of their starting rotation.

Philadelphia Phillies

Production at first base in 2025: .262/.351/.479, 32 HR, 128 wRC+, 3.9 fWAR

• Primary 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 probably 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

• Primary 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 to improve their offense and 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

• Primary 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. Acquiring Taylor Ward in exchange for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez on Tuesday fulfilled that requirement. 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

• Primary designated hitters: George Springer (80 starts), Anthony Santander (30), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (24)

This fit isn’t perfect, but the Blue Jays could lose shortstop 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 resurgent season primarily as Toronto’s DH, so he’d have to move back to the outfield to make room for Alonso.