The Houston Astros shocked the baseball world when they acquired Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins at this year’s trade deadline.
Could the Astros make another blockbuster move this offseason?
Per the New York Post, Houston is said to be eyeing Mets’ slugger Pete Alonso in free agency. After testing the open market in 2024, the 30-year-old first baseman is sure to turn down his $24 million player option this winter after a solid season in New York.
Alonso in Houston?
The Astros proved their willingness to be bold at the trade deadline, and Alonso’s bat would slot in perfectly with a Houston team that’s struggled to score runs down the stretch.
Alonso has hit 30 or more home runs in six of his seven seasons in the major leagues and holds the franchise record in homers (256) for the Mets. He’s slashing .267/.348/.514 this year with 30 homers and 108 RBI.
However, Houston does already have a first baseman in Christian Walker, who signed a three-year, $60 million dollar deal with the Astros last winter. And the Mets will surely try to re-sign Alonso, who’s also drawing interest from the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees, per the Post.
All that hurts Houston’s chances, but free agency is often unpredictable. And depending on how the Astros perform in the playoffs, their sense of urgency to snag Alonso could heighten.
Houston ace Framber Valdez is also entering free agency this winter, and the Astros seem unlikely to re-sign him.
But first, the Astros (74-60) have to finish the 2025 season. They begin a three-game series vs. the Los Angeles Angels (62-71) tonight at Daikin Park.