Pete Alonso: Where will the slugger play in 2026? Analysis of possible teams

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

A year after several MLB teams didn’t deem him worthy of an extensive contract, Pete Alonso returns to the free agent market seeking a long-term deal. Following a prolonged standstill, Alonso agreed in February to a two-year, $54 million contract to return to the New York Mets, with an opt-out after the 2025 season. He received $30 million this year, and his numbers were good enough to justify the opt-out, which he announced minutes after the Mets lost their last regular season game against the Miami Marlins and were eliminated from the playoffs.

The chances of finding a team willing to offer him a long-term contract are greater this time, mainly for two reasons. The first is clear: he’s coming off a significantly better season. 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 pattern considering that Alonso was about to turn 30 and did not provide value in defense or on the bases.

Although metrics suggested that Alonso was still one of the worst first basemen in 2025, with -9 defensive runs saved and -9 outs above average, he rebounded at the plate. With an adjustment to his swing and approach, Alonso hit the ball harder, with 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 wRC+ of 141 was the second-highest of his career. In addition, he set the franchise home run record, solidifying his place as one of the most beloved Mets in recent history.

It’s important to note that Alonso played in 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 in 60 as a designated hitter. In that period, his 264 career home runs place him in third place in MLB, behind only Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, another free agent. Alonso is synonymous with durability and consistency. Another factor to consider is the market. Alonso and Schwarber are the two 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 Alonso’s toughest competition at that position. Josh Naylor is at a lower level, with less power but better defense and performance on the bases, and although Seattle wasn’t going to spend the money needed for Alonso, the fact that the Mariners retained their first baseman eliminates an option for other clubs.

Adding all this up, Alonso should find an agreement in the range of four to five years. The question is: where? Here are some possible destinations for the five-time All-Star, starting with the three teams that have shown the most aggressive interest so far, including the only team he has known.

New York Mets

Mets’ president of baseball operations David Stearns stated last week that 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, doesn’t hurt, 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 things like 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 give Alonso what he wanted last winter indicates that he prefers not to make that level of investment in him. The Mets haven’t had anyone other than Alonso start at first base on Opening Day since Adrián González began a 54-game cameo to conclude his career in 2018. A year later, Alonso debuted and hit 54 home runs, leading him to be named National League Rookie of the Year. He became a fan favorite in Queens during his seven seasons. But he 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 at 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

• Primaries as designated hitter: 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 option to replace him, Devers, declined the assignment, leading Boston to send him to San Francisco. Toro, Gonzalez, and Lowe, who was signed in August, took on 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 a middle-of-the-lineup bat, preferably a right-handed one. 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 fulfill that requirement. So would the signing of 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 appetite for both free agents? The Devers trade removed $29.1 million from the competitive balance tax payroll for each of the next eight years. The Red Sox removed approximately $98 million from their relatively modest $201 million competitive balance tax payroll 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

• Primaries at 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

• Primaries as designated hitter: Gavin Lux (57 starts), Austin Hays (38), Miguel Andujar (20), Tyler Stephenson (17), Steer (16)

The Reds finished 14th in MLB 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 recording a 121 OPS+ in his first 18 career games. But Alonso resides on another level. Like Schwarber, a native of the Cincinnati area. 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 deals 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 they simply decide to play elsewhere, the Reds could get a cheaper alternative on the trade market by trading 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 basemen: Bryce Harper (130 starts)

Production as a designated hitter in 2025: .238/.362/.566, 57 HR, 152 wRC+, 5.1 fWAR

• Primaries as designated hitter: 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, aside from 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 move on from 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 at 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

• Primaries as designated hitter: 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

First base production in 2025: .243/.310/.369, 14 HR, 92 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR

• Primary at 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

• Primaries as designated hitter: 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

• Primaries as designated hitter: 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 designated hitter, so he would have to move back to the outfield to make room for Alonso.