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Pete Alonso didn't get the contract he wanted last winter. He spent weeks waiting for a club to offer him the contract he wanted, in order to sign a long-term deal.
But it didn't happen. So he returned to the Mets, his #1 destination – despite difficult negotiations between Scott Boras and David Stearns.
His short-term contract can expire this winter if he decides to become a free agent. And with the season he's having, everything points to the home run king in Mets history (he recently surpassed Darryl Strawberry by hitting his 253rd home run for the Metropolitans) getting out of his contract.
But where to? If I had to bet a rusty old $2, I'd put it on a return to the Mets. That's where he wants to play, the club loves him – as do the guys in the locker room – and the owner has a lot of money in the coffers.
But what if he doesn't? I don't see him, for example, going to Toronto, the other club that was seriously in the picture last winter.
After all, it fit in the short term in 2025 when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wasn't signed long-term and guys like Ernie Clement and Addison Barger hadn't stabilized third base… but I don't see it fitting in 2026, on the terms of a long contract.
So if it's not the Mets(who will be on the Munetaka Murakami case), who would it be? The Angels, who had their nose in the case last winter, without it being too serious? Maybe not.
But one club to keep an eye on is Cincinnati.
The Reds, who really need a powerful bat in the middle of their lineup, would be a natural fit to sign Pete Alonso, should he ever leave the Mets. – Bob Nightengale, in his famous Sunday text
9 questions for MLB season's final month: MVP awards, managers on the hot seat; division races https://t.co/eF7ZmYHX6V
– Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 31, 2025
The Reds, who are also linked to Kyle Schwarber if the Cincinnati native doesn't return to the Phillies in 2026, didn't sign Tito Francona to avoid trying to win in the short term.
The club is competitive and can afford a contract like that. Not ten, but one? Yes.
I don't see the Polar Bear leaving the Big Apple. But since Scott Boras likes to establish the value of his clients on the free-agent market, he'll clearly consider the Reds if a good offer is on the table.
We also have to wonder why Bob Nightengale, well connected in the business, put this out there, just like that, in his text.
- Blue Jays loss: John Schneider refuses to publicly blame his bullpen.
Schneider, like Boone, Cora and other managers are not going to bury their own players publicly. There's really no value in it. The players know they aren't performing. It's September, there's nowhere to look for help. The guys in the room need to figure it out. https://t.co/8uc7gT2xkg
– Brandon Wile (@Brandon_N_Wile) September 1, 2025
- Rafael Devers adapts to his new environment.
Devers now has 10 HRs and 1.030 OPS over his last 27 games. Looks like he's finally adjusted. https://t.co/VOTzPuUw7c
– Brandon Wile (@Brandon_N_Wile) September 1, 2025
- Jonathan India is injured.
https://twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1962638230559297681
- Trevor Story is important in Boston.
This content was created with the help of AI.
