The Boston Red Sox clearly want an upgrade at first base over Triston Casas, whose knee injury could keep him out past Opening Day anyway.
They wouldn't have been one of the free agency finalists for Pete Alonso if that wasn't true.
But on Wednesday, Alonso chose to leave the New York Mets not for Fenway Park but for Camden Yards. He's the newest member of Boston's AL East rival Baltimore Orioles.
Boston has to pivot, in a hurry, but it could be tough.
With Alonso off the board, the first base pickings just thinned out considerably.
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What first basemen are still free agents?
The two most talented free agent first basemen this offseason are now signed with other teams: Alonso to the Orioles, and Josh Naylor returning to the Mariners.
The drop off after them is steep.
The best first baseman remaining is Ryan O'Hearn, a solid lefty hitter but not an All-Star level player. Rhys Hoskins is another player in the post-30-but-still-viable stage.
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Luis Arraez is available with his unique contact, batting average skillset. Nathaniel Lowe ended the season with Boston and is out there.
Then there's the older crowd, like Paul Goldschmidt, Wilmer Flores and Carlos Santana.
The Red Sox could also go after Munetaka Murakami or Kazuma Okamoto, two Japanese stars who are versatile but can play first base.
None of the options for Boston feels as exciting or promising as Alonso.
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