Pete Alonso Rumors: Yankees Have 'Checked In' on Mets 1B Ahead of MLB Free Agency

The New York Yankees could be one of the teams pursuing New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso if he declines his qualifying offer and hits free agency, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Alonso was named a Silver Slugger Award finalist after batting .240 with 34 home runs and 88 RBI in 162 games of the 2024 season. He then played a key role in the Mets' run to the NLCS.

The Mets made Alonso a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer he is expected to decline. Should Alonso sign elsewhere, the Mets would receive a draft pick in compensation.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said after his team was eliminated by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers that the Mets hope to have Alonso back next season.

"He's a great Met. I hope we have him back," Stearns said. "I think we both understand this is a process, and everyone's got their own interest. And Pete deserves to go out into the free agent market and see what's out there, and then ultimately make the best choice for him and his family."

Joel Sherman previously reported for the New York Post that the Mets offered Alonso a seven-year, $158 million deal that he declined in June 2023. According to Sherman, the team and Alonso's representatives "never got close to a deal."

That October, Alonso signed with player agent Scott Boras, who also represents Yankees pending free agent Juan Soto, sparking rumors that he would be hitting free agency after his contract expired.

The first baseman then agreed to a one-year, $20.5 million deal to avoid arbitration ahead of the 2024 season, setting him on track to hit free agency this winter.

The Yankees make sense as a potential suitor for Alonso given their decision to decline the $17 million contract option to keep veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo on the roster. Heyman recently described him as a "prime backup plan to Plan A" of keeping Soto on the roster.

The Mets are meanwhile potentially going to be one of the clubs pursuing Soto, as the New York Post's Mike Puma reported they are one of the dozen or so teams that have "checked in" on the right fielder following the Yankees' Game 5 elimination from the World Series.

Soto, who turned 26 last month, is believed to be in pursuit of a contract worth around $700 million, according to Heyman. Alonso, who is heading into his age-30 season, could pursuing something upwards of the $158 contract he reportedly declined last year. Both could now be pursued by these two New York clubs with the deepest pockets in the MLB.