The New York Mets are considered a serious threat to lure free-agent star away from the Boston Red Sox this offseason. Should that occur, the Red Sox might quickly strike back.
Matt Skillings of Heavy Sports suggests that Boston could respond by targeting Mets free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso, pulling away one of the franchise’s longest-standing fan favorites as a form of payback.
“If Alex Bregman does sign a contract with the New York Mets, it could light a fire under Red Sox general manager Craig Breslow to make a retaliatory move and sign Alonso. Boston has shown penny-pinching instincts in recent years, albeit before last season when they signed Bregman, Garrett Crochet and a slew of youngsters to deals,” Skillings wrote.
“Signing Alonso makes all the sense in the world for Boston. First and foremost, it would prove to the fanbase that the days of trying the ‘moneyball’ approach are over, and that the Red Sox are invested in spending money to win.
“Secondly, Alonso fills a vital need for Boston, both in the lineup and in the field. Without Bregman and Rafael Devers who was traded last season, power hitting was a huge concern for the Red Sox last season, a role Alonso could fill to perfection, especially with the green monster on his side for 81 games a season.”
Steve Cohen is expected to pursue major additions after the Mets’ disappointing finish to the 2025 season. While Bregman’s power isn’t what it used to be—and Citi Field’s pitcher-friendly dimensions could further limit his home run output—he remains an excellent defender and a reliable hitter in the middle of the order.
Alonso, meanwhile, still brings plenty of power, and his pull-heavy approach could make him a frequent visitor over the Green Monster. Few hitters in today’s game are as naturally suited for Fenway Park as Alonso.
In the end, this kind of free-agency ‘swap’ could work out for both clubs. Now it’s a matter of who moves first and whether their offseasons end up connected.
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