A quiet offseason day can turn on a single name, and in Boston’s case, that name might be a familiar one to anyone who has followed the New York Mets over the last decade. Pete Alonso, freshly on the market after opting out, has landed squarely on the Red Sox radar at a moment when the club is openly searching for ways to punch up its lineup. The conversation around Alex Bregman’s free agency was already loud enough, but adding Alonso into the mix raises the stakes in a way few sluggers can.
A Middle-of-the-Order Need
The Red Sox haven’t been shy about acknowledging a need for more impact at the plate. Bregman’s uncertainty created the first opening, but the broader issue is that Boston simply didn’t do enough damage in key spots last season. They lacked the sort of hitter who changes an inning with a single mistake from a pitcher. Alonso has made a living off those mistakes.
Even with the defensive questions and the baserunning limitations that follow him, the Mets slugger brings the kind of offensive certainty the Red Sox lineup has missed. His 141 wRC+ in 2025 didn’t just reaffirm his bat; it underscored how consistently he produces above the league’s upper tier. And it wasn’t some one-year spike. Alonso has built an entire identity around hitting for real power, the type that holds up under pressure and doesn’t evaporate when the season drags into August.
The Contract Dance in Queens
The Mets have never hidden their interest in keeping Alonso. They value what he means to the franchise, on the field and everywhere else. But franchise value and contract value don’t always align. Alonso wants length. Not just years, but years with security. After taking a shorter deal last winter, he seems done with the temporary approach, and the early expectation is that he’ll push for something close to seven seasons of commitment.
That’s a tough ask for a hitter who will turn 31 by Opening Day. Even the most aggressive front offices tend to pause before handing out that kind of term to a first baseman whose game is built around power. MLB Trade Rumors recently echoed that sentiment, suggesting Alonso’s seven-year hope is unlikely to find many buyers. What seems more realistic is a four-year range somewhere between 110 and 120 million dollars, a number that reflects his production without requiring an organization to pay deep into his late thirties.
For Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, the question becomes simple: will they go to that length and price, or will they bet on replacing the production and spreading the money elsewhere?
Boston’s Opening and the Opportunity Ahead
This is where the Red Sox slide into the picture. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, they’re casting a wide net, exploring the idea of signing one or even two major hitters. Kyle Schwarber, Alonso, Kazuma Okamoto, J.T. Realmuto, and Bregman all sit on their board. That’s a group with power, patience, and different ways of tilting games in their favor.
Alonso doesn’t need an elaborate pitch. He already proved he can carry an offense, and his track record speaks loudly: 38 homers last season, a .272/.347/.524 slash line, and the Mets’ all-time home run record broken before his 31st birthday. That’s not just a resume; that’s a franchise-level bat looking for a franchise-level commitment.
Boston has the payroll space, the positional fit, and a clear opportunity to capitalize if the Mets hesitate. And while “steal” is always dramatic language this time of year, it doesn’t feel totally out of place. If New York blinks, even for a moment, a club like the Red Sox can slip right through the door.
What Happens Next
Alonso’s market won’t resolve quickly. Hitting of his caliber rarely sits around waiting for January. But both sides know what’s at stake. The Mets must decide if they’re comfortable building around a player who wants to be paid long into his thirties, and the Red Sox must decide whether Alonso’s power is worth reshaping the lineup and payroll structure.
The fit is obvious. The need is real. The price is fair. Now it’s just a matter of which front office takes the swing first.
More about: New York Mets
