Mets rumors: Pete Alonso free agent destination would make lowly team great again

The offseason has yet to begin for Major League Baseball. However, with so many teams already eliminated, they have no choice but to look ahead. The New York Mets continue to battle for playoff supremacy in these final days while MLB insiders begin to speculate what they’ll do this winter and where some of their big free agents could land.

In a story for the NY Post, Jon Heyman failed to drop anything more than water balloons by stating how the Mets are expected to be in play for Juan Soto. Rumor has it they’re also planning to host their games at Citi Field next year.

Buried in his story was a mention of how Mets free agent Pete Alonso could be a match for the Washington Nationals. Heyman doesn’t specify this is coming from any source, but the mere mention is noteworthy coming from him. It probably is a Soto or Alonso situation for the Mets. And if Alonso ends up going somewhere, heading down to D.C. would give us all some flashbacks of Daniel Murphy.

Don't doubt the odds of Pete Alonso going from the Mets to the Nationals

Swinging back up after dropping off for a few seasons, Alonso would join the Nationals in an era where they look poised to begin spending again. More than a decade ago, the Nationals threw a lot of money at Philadelphia Phillies free agent Jayson Werth to help kick-off their franchise’s desire to win.

Insert Alonso into the middle of the Nationals lineup, they become a much bigger threat in the National League. While it won’t make us shiver immediately, we know just how good he can be when things are going well.

Alonso has been beastly at Nationals Parks, slashing .304/.391/.619 with 15 home runs in 210 plate appearances. Some terribly weak seasons from Nationals pitchers in recent seasons post-2019 can account for some of this. Either way, it has been a place of comfort for him to play. Maybe it's even a destination he could land on a shorter deal.

As an added bonus to connect these dots, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo and Alonso’s agent Scott Boras have a lengthy history together. It’s not outrageous for another of Boras’ clients to land in Washington.

Heyman does note that some believe the Mets remain the favorite to sign Alonso. Because he’ll inevitably receive and then reject a qualifying offer, teams with more to lose by signing him will steer clear. The Nationals won’t be penalized nearly as much as a bigger spender like the Mets.