The New York Mets' all-time leader in home runs, Pete Alonso, is a free agent.
Will the Polar Bear be heading back to Queens? That remains to be seen.
There seems to be legitimate momentum for Alonso to end up elsewhere. While not a strong fielder, his bat still plays and likely will for years to come. There's room in most lineups for a slugger like Alonso.
On Friday, ESPN's Jorge Castillo listed landing spots for Alonso, and the list isn't short. There are seven teams on it, including the Mets.
The full seven possibilities laid out by ESPN were:
- New York Mets
- Boston Red Sox
- Cincinnati Reds
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Baltimore Orioles
- Toronto Blue Jays
This is how Castillo lays out the chances of returning to the Mets:
"The Mets haven't had someone 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 went on to club 54 home runs en route to being named National League Rookie of the Year. He became a fan favorite in Queens over his seven seasons. But he could find himself in another uniform in 2026."
The other six options are quite varied, from clear contenders to teams that want to take a step forward.
The Red Sox have been a common link between various sources when it comes to Alonso.
The Pirates are a bit of a surprise but do seem intent on spending money this offseason.
The Phillies and Blue Jays both have strong players at first base and would definitely DH Alonso.
It's clear the market isn't lacking for the Polar Bear. It's just a matter of where he ends up.
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