The game of musical first basemen went full tilt in the last week, with several practitioners of the position signed or traded.
Most notably not among them: Pete Alonso.
The free-agent slugger saw his options dwindle, as the Yankees, Astros, Guardians, Diamondbacks and Nationals all signed or traded for a first baseman.
Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker, Carlos Santana, Josh Naylor and Nathaniel Lowe all found new homes. The flurry would seem like as strong an indicator as any that Alonso will return to his old one — with the Mets — but Alonso and his agent Scott Boras haven’t appeared in any hurry.
Is there a market for Alonso outside Queens? Let’s examine a few landing spots that still could be logical, even with his options reduced.
San Francisco Giants
After whiffing in attempts over the last few winters to add a big bat through free agency, the team finally created a splash with Willy Adames’ arrival on a seven-year contract worth $182 million. The Giants, under a new front office 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, where he’s delivered seven homers in 17 career games, producing a .910 OPS. The Giants have used a platoon at first base that includes LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores (who had an underwhelming season as the right-handed part of the equation).
Texas Rangers
The 2023 World Series champions are still in a win-now mode with a roster that includes 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 team could look to Alonso for additional pop. Jake Burger, acquired in a trade with the Marlins, is part of the first base mix, but he could also be part of the DH and third base equation if the Rangers were to sign Alonso.
Seattle Mariners
Would Alonso really want to spend the next several (or even few) years playing his home games in a ballpark hardly conducive to the long ball? It might take a contract with a little extra sizzle.
The Mariners could certainly use a bat or two after finishing 21st in MLB in runs scored. Luke Raley, who split time last season between first base and the outfield, is atop the depth chart at the position. It was first base by committee for the Mariners last season, with Ty France and Justin Turner also included.
St. Louis Cardinals
Goldschmidt departed through free agency, reaching agreement last weekend with the Yankees (one year, $12.5 million). Alonso would fit, but the Cardinals have shown little inclination to spend money this offseason. Would they potentially give a nine-figure deal to Alonso? The five-year contract worth $130 million that Goldschmidt received before the 2020 season was among the biggest given to a first baseman in recent years.
As it stands, the Cardinals appear set to head into spring training with Alec Burleson as the first baseman. Burleson has experience at the position and brought a respectable left-handed bat (.734 OPS) to the Cardinals’ lineup last season.
Los Angeles Angels
The disparity between the two Los Angeles franchises couldn’t be greater, with the Dodgers as the toast of baseball and the Orange County team searching for an identity post-Shohei Ohtani, with Mike Trout often injured.
Signing Alonso would add juice to a team that lost 99 games last season. Angels owner Arte Moreno has previously shown he’s willing to pay big for bats, but might be hesitant following the Albert Pujols and Trout contracts that didn’t or haven’t worked in the club’s favor. Nolan Schanuel produced a pedestrian .705 OPS as the team’s regular first baseman last season.