The San Diego Padres have been dealing with a vacancy at first base for pretty much the entirety of the season. San Diego traded for Ryan O'Hearn at the trade deadline, but he's mostly been a DH, as the first base spot right now belongs to Luis Arraez.
However, both Arraez and O'Hearn are set to enter the open market, and it's unclear whether or not San Diego will re-sign either of them.
What the president of baseball operations, AJ Preller, could do is open up the checkbook for one of the biggest names in the market to solidify a star at one of the hot corner positions.
Padres named top landing spot for Pete Alonso
With the announcement that Pete Alonso will opt out of his current deal with the New York Mets, that has the rumor mill is swirling about the 38 home run first baseman who has made the all-star team in four straight seasons.
In a recent piece by Bleacher Report, the Padres are named one of a few teams that are a top landing spot for the 'Polar Bear'.
If Arraez leaves and signs elsewhere, that would mean Jake Cronenworth is likely to be the primary option at first base, and he played mostly second this season.
Alonso had another stellar season, posting a .272 average, 126 RBIs, an OPS+ of 144, and an NL-leading 41 doubles. Whatever the evaluation of Alonso is, with the amount of offensive production he brings to an infield, it feels worth it to sign him.
It will all be up to AJ Preller, who controls the Padres roster personnel, but he has shown a willingness in the past to commit to players financially for the long term.
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