Pete Alonso remained a free agent for a large portion of this offseason. Several teams were listed as suitors for the home-run hitting first baseman. The Philadelphia Phillies are rumored to be one of the clubs interested in signing him this winter.
Alonso played in all 162 regular season games for the New York Mets in 2024. His 34 home runs were his lowest since the shortened 2020 season. The first baseman totaled 37 home runs in 2021, 40 in 2022, and a career-high 46 the following season in 2023. His 88 RBI were down considerably from the 131 he finished with three years ago and his total of 118 in 2023. Despite his down year last season, he remains one of the Mets' best hitters and would have been quite an addition for the Phillies.
Phillies reportedly checked in on division rival Pete Alonso, according to MLB insider
MLB insider Jon Heyman wrote a piece for the New York Post mentioning that the Phillies pondered adding Alonso and “checked in” on the Mets’ free agent (subscription required), who signed a two-year, $54 million contract with New York to remain in Queens.
However, it is interesting to contemplate the thought of Philly adding the power hitting Alonso. It would have given the club a much-needed right-handed batter they could use near the top of their lineup. The Phillies front office was in the market to add a right-handed batter at last year's trade deadline. They will presumably look to do so again if the organization is in playoff contention by this summer's trade deadline.
Phillies "Checked In" On Pete Alonso During Offseason https://t.co/YCBiH0Zhbk pic.twitter.com/y8CHTHkj5f
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) March 9, 2025
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper revealed he would have moved back to the outfield if the organization added Alonso in free agency (subscription required).
"I’d be more than open to it if we had a guy like that, who was going to change our lineup or change the demeanor of our team," Harper said, per Rosenthal. "They like me at first base. But I’d go out there to have a guy who was going to play first base and hit 35 or 40 homers.”
Alonso would have been quite the addition for Philadelphia this offseason, despite the questions it would create among some of the Phillies' position players. How often would Harper, Alonso and current right fielder Nick Castellanos play defensively? Presumably, the trio would share time at the designated hitter position. Kyle Schwarber would need to play more in left field than last season to keep his bat in the lineup.
Alonso has a player option for 2026 and can opt out and become a free agent again. He will be looking for a long-term deal again next winter. The Phillies have some players who will be free agents next offseason: starting pitcher Ranger Suárez, catcher J.T. Realmuto, and Schwarber.
Could the Phillies contemplate signing the infielder of one of their division rivals again? It would make sense, especially if the home-run hitting Schwarber does not return to Philly. Even if he does, Alonso would give them another power-hitter, but one that bats right-handed. Signing him to a multi-year deal would give them more insurance with right-handed hitters in third baseman Alec Bohm and Castellanos, who are both scheduled to be free agents after the 2026 season.
Harper has made it clear he will do whatever it takes to help bring a World Series to Philadelphia. He wants to win. If the organization falls short of a championship again this year, what will the front office do next offseason to retool its roster? They could swing for the fence and add a player from an NL East rival, such as Alonso.