The sport of musical first basemen went full tilt within the final week, with a number of practitioners of the place signed or traded.
Most notably not amongst them: Pete Alonso.
The free-agent slugger noticed his choices dwindle, because the Yankees, Astros, Guardians, Diamondbacks and Nationals all signed or traded for a primary baseman.
Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker, Carlos Santana, Josh Naylor and Nathaniel Lowe all discovered new houses. The flurry would appear like as robust an indicator as any that Alonso will return to his outdated one — with the Mets — however Alonso and his agent Scott Boras haven’t appeared in any hurry.
Is there a marketplace for Alonso outdoors Queens? Let’s look at just a few touchdown spots that also might be logical, even together with his choices lowered.
San Francisco Giants
After whiffing in makes an attempt over the previous couple of winters so as to add an enormous bat by way of free company, the staff lastly created a splash with Willy Adames’ arrival on a seven-year contract price $182 million. The Giants, below a brand new entrance workplace headed by Buster Posey, would roar louder by bringing a Polar Bear to the chilly Bay waters (no, Boras didn’t write this).
Alonso has thrived at Oracle Park, the place he’s delivered seven homers in 17 profession video games, producing a .910 OPS. The Giants have used a platoon at first base that features LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores (who had an underwhelming season because the right-handed a part of the equation).
Texas Rangers
The 2023 World Collection champions are nonetheless in a win-now mode with a roster that features Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jacob deGrom.
The Rangers traded Lowe to Washington over the weekend for lefty reliever Robert Garcia, leaving it conceivable the staff might look to Alonso for added pop. Jake Burger, acquired in a commerce with the Marlins, is a part of the primary base combine, however he may be a part of the DH and third base equation if the Rangers have been to signal Alonso.
Seattle Mariners
Would Alonso actually need to spend the following a number of (and even few) years enjoying his residence video games in a ballpark hardly conducive to the lengthy ball? It would take a contract with a bit of additional sizzle.
The Mariners might definitely use a bat or two after ending twenty first in MLB in runs scored. Luke Raley, who cut up time final season between first base and the outfield, is atop the depth chart on the place. It was first base by committee for the Mariners final season, with Ty France and Justin Turner additionally included.
St. Louis Cardinals
Goldschmidt departed by way of free company, reaching settlement final weekend with the Yankees (one yr, $12.5 million). Alonso would match, however the Cardinals have proven little inclination to spend cash this offseason. Would they doubtlessly give a nine-figure deal to Alonso? The five-year contract price $130 million that Goldschmidt obtained earlier than the 2020 season was among the many greatest given to a primary baseman in recent times.
Because it stands, the Cardinals seem set to go into spring coaching with Alec Burleson as the primary baseman. Burleson has expertise on the place and introduced a good left-handed bat (.734 OPS) to the Cardinals’ lineup final season.
Los Angeles Angels
The disparity between the 2 Los Angeles franchises couldn’t be better, with the Dodgers because the toast of baseball and the Orange County staff looking for an id post-Shohei Ohtani, with Mike Trout usually injured.
Signing Alonso would add juice to a staff that misplaced 99 video games final season. Angels proprietor Arte Moreno has beforehand proven he’s keen to pay large for bats, however is likely to be hesitant following the Albert Pujols and Trout contracts that didn’t or haven’t labored within the membership’s favor. Nolan Schanuel produced a pedestrian .705 OPS because the staff’s common first baseman final season.
