NY Mets rumors: Red Sox seen as Pete Alonso spoiler, but don’t sleep on this team

Rumors keep the offseason alive, and Pete Alonso’s name has already taken over the conversation once again. The New York Mets have been here before, forced to ride the rumor wave last winter and now bracing for a sequel. This time, the buzz points toward Boston, where the Red Sox have been linked to Alonso in early speculation. It’s the kind of chatter that spreads fast and stirs just enough worry in Queens.

Still, Boston might not be the only team Mets fans should keep an eye on. Somewhere beyond the headlines, another contender could be lurking, one that fits the part a little too well. These months thrive on whispers, and not all of them are harmless. If the Mets aren’t careful, the real threat to keeping Alonso might be coming from farther away than anyone expects.

The biggest threat to Pete Alonso’s Mets future may be the Seattle Mariners

It’s no secret that the Seattle Mariners are shopping for a first baseman. They’ve made it clear that bringing back Josh Naylor is the priority after renting him from Arizona at the trade deadline. The problem? Naylor’s market is about to explode. He’s expected to land a deal in the $20–25 million range over four to six years after a four-season stretch of production that any team would envy—OPS+ over 118 each year, 90-plus RBIs in the last three.

That price tag alone could test Seattle’s patience. And with three-quarters of their infield—Naylor, Jorge Polanco, and Eugenio Suárez—hitting free agency, patience might not be an option. If the Mariners can’t reunite with Naylor, the backup plan could be far more ambitious. Pete Alonso’s name surfaced on their radar last offseason when he first hit the open market, and his fit in Seattle’s lineup feels almost too natural to ignore.

He’d slide right into their first base and DH rotation, instantly giving Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh the kind of power protection they’ve been missing. Alonso’s projected annual value would eclipse any current Mariner—Luis Castillo tops the payroll now at $21 million—but Seattle has the flexibility to dream big. With young arms like Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Bryce Miller still in their arbitration years, this might be the window to strike before those paydays force tough decisions.

For a team that’s been knocking on contention’s door, Alonso could be the swing that finally breaks it open. And for the Mets, that’s the kind of possibility that should keep them up at night.