Threat to steal Pete Alonso from the NY Mets is turning their attention elsewhere

Pete Alonso will have a slightly increased market this offseason. First base isn’t always a position prioritized by clubs, especially when the cost and commitment is as much and for as long as Alonso is seeking. One ball club that will be on a similar mission as the New York Mets to find a first baseman only recently stopped playing games. The Seattle Mariners, who haven’t had a rich history of first basemen, are a theoretical match to sign Alonso.

Coming off of a depressing loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the ALCS, the Mariners aren’t about to reset anything. In fact, one of their free agent priorities is to run it back with Josh Naylor at first base.

A ball of energy and productive as well, he was the right man for the job in Seattle. Their strong desire to keep Naylor eliminates at least one ball club from seeking out Alonso’s services.

The Mariners already seem out on Mets free agent Pete Alonso, who’ll be the next to make him more easy to retain?

Speculated clubs who could try to steal Alonso from the Mets include the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and even the Washington Nationals. The Los Angeles Angels might be a threat, too. With manager Kurt Suzuki on a one-year deal and Perry Minasian basically putting his job on the line this coming year too, expect them to make some major attempts to overhaul the ball club.

With Alonso, it’s a matter of several factors that’ll have teams driving directly toward signing him or steering clear. He’s aiming for one of the biggest contracts at his position with a deal ranging between $150-200 million being realistic after the year he had. Some of the logical landing spots for him can be quickly eliminated with internal options. The Yankees have Ben Rice already. The top Giants prospect is Bryce Eldridge who plays first base. Believing Alonso is destined to become a more regular DH is a consideration as well. You can’t sign him when someone else is clogging up the spot in the order.

Naylor helped make himself more desirable to the Mets with his strong postseason performance. One will have to believe if he’s the primary focus for Seattle, he’ll get signed sooner than later while Alonso’s free agency drags on.

The Mets and Mariners had two very different seasons. The Mariners want to keep what worked so well for them while the Mets need to start considering ways to reshuffle the deck. Many of their plans should include Alonso. By mid-December, it’s an easy guess that his market will be them, two other teams with a hole at first base, and maybe a mystery team.