Will the New York Mets trade Pete Alonso this winter? After discussing the move at the MLB trade deadline, is sure seems likely.
Perhaps the Mets were just doing their due diligence. Maybe Billy Eppler and Steve Cohen will have a change of heart this offseason when Pete Alonso's contract and overall value come full focus. But for now, Alonso's name is squarely involved in trade rumors, even if that move cannot be made until the offseason.
The winter meetings always involve these sorts of exploratory talks. Every important person in baseball is in one place — this year, that'll be Nashville — so Alonso's situation should become far more clear then.
I like to play devil's advocate, for better or worse. if the Mets do choose to trade Alonso rather than pay him his worth, it makes the most sense to do so this offseason, when his value will be highest. Here are some teams that could be interested, and what they may offer when the time comes.
Pete Alonso rumors: Baltimore Orioles could trade for Mets star
The Orioles arguably have the best farm system in the sport. They were able to hold onto the vast majority of those prospects at the trade deadline, instead dealing for Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty to upgrade their rotation. Flaherty was a rental, so the return wasn't as high as it would be for a player under contract for years to come.
In this trade, Alonso will slide right into the first base/DH slot in Baltimore for years to come. He's still young enough to be a staple of the O's next World Series run, and in this case the Orioles would invest in his services.
As for New York, they acquire Norby as the centerpiece of this trade. He's a top-100 prospect and can play outfield or second base. Either of those positions should work for the Mets long term. Beavers is a top outfield prospect and No. 10 in the system, while Johnson is performing well in Double-A this season. Both players fit the Mets competitive timeline. If Max Scherzer is to be believed, that is 2025-26.
Pete Alonso rumors: Padres trade for Mets star
Pete Alonso should contribute to the Padres championship hopes right away. A.J. Preller lives for the winter meetings, and Alonso could serve as his yearly big splash, rather than overspending in free agency. In return, he'd have to give up some of top prospect capital.
Snelling is one of the best left-handed pitching prospects in baseball. He's also just 19 years old, with plenty of room to grow. The Mets lost Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer at the deadline this year, hence the need for two pitchers in this trade package. Mazur is pitching well in Double-A and could even contribute in 2024 if called upon. Rojas, meanwhile, is more of a lottery ticket. He won't be needed at shortstop for New York, which currently sports Francisco Lindor at the position.
Pete Alonso rumors: Diamondbacks trade for Mets star
Arizona acquires Pete Alonso in what's quickly turning into an NL West arms race. Alonso is one of the best power hitters in all of baseball, and if the Diamondbacks are confident they can lock him up long term, they should go for it. Arizona's young core surrounding Corbin Carroll is strong, but is it World Series strong? With Alonso in tow, they quickly become one of the main challengers to the Dodgers in the NL West.
As for New York, Pfaadt is a top-30 prospect in baseball, which is why this trade package is a little lighter. He's coming off a strong minor-league season, and could slide right into the Mets 2024 rotation if they see fit. Vukovich is more of a throw-in, but he can play multiple positions and fits New York's timeline. He is a top-15 prospect in Arizona's strong system.
Pete Alonso rumors: SF Giants trade package
The Giants searched for their star last offseason, making a very competitive offer for Aaron Judge before he re-signed with the Yankees, and even inking Carlos Correa before his physical fell through. Farhan Zaidi wants to go big-game hunting, and Alonso makes a ton of sense on the surface. If San Francisco is to rejuvenate its core and get back to World Series contention in a crowded NL West, they need a player of Alonso's caliber.
New York receives three prospects in the Giants top-15. Whisenhunt is the prize of the bunch, as he's moved up the ranks quickly and should increase his prospect ranking this offseason. Black has the potential to start in next year's Mets rotation, as he's in Triple-A now and ranked eighth on the Giants prospect list. Pomarez, meanwhile, is raking in rookie ball.
Pete Alonso rumors: Astros trade package
Houston's Jose Abreu experiment backfired miserably, as did their Trey Mancini trade at the deadline last season. It's safe to suggest the Astros need a permanent solution at first base. That solution can come in the form of Pete Alonso, who would contend in Houston for years to come and form a formidable power duo with Yordan Alvarez in the center of the Astros lineup. The one issue in the way of completing such a deal, though, is that Houston's farm system is one of the worst in the majors.
Because of this, the Mets trade package would center around MLB-ready talent. Hunter Brown pitched in the majors this season and despite some bumps in the road, he has a decent 4.12 ERA in 20 games started. Barber is the team's second-ranked prospect, but he's blocked by a lot of talent in the outfield and No. 1 prospect Jacob Melton. Gordon is the team's fifth-ranked prospect, but that's being a bit generous. He's near MLB-ready and has respectable minor-league numbers this season, unlike many of Houston's pitching prospects.