There could be a “Polar Bear” sighting next season at Fenway Park. That’s because the Boston Red Sox are once again being linked to New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso.
The five-time All-Star is expected to opt out of his contract following the season and hit the free-agent market. Several clubs have been linked to the two-time Home Run Derby champion.
“Will the Red Sox moving of roughly $250 million of Rafael Devers’ contract in a trade to the Giants motivate them to use a chunk on Alonso to attack the Green Monster?” the New York Post’s Joel Sherman wrote Saturday. “Do the Padres have it in their more restrictive budget to add the kind of homer might they need? Can the Giants, who still need power, even after obtaining Devers be interested, or do they just want to wait on their near-ready power prospect Bryce Eldridge?”
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand wrote last week that the Red Sox, Giants and Mets are potential fits for Alonso.
“(I)t took Alonso until mid-February to land a deal, re-signing with the Mets for two years and $54 million,” Feinsand noted. “Alonso can opt out of the final year and $24 million of the deal to give free agency another try, and with 28 home runs, 101 RBIs and an .862 OPS through 126 games this season, that scenario appears likely.”
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Earlier this month, Alonso passed Darryl Strawberry to become the Mets’ all-time home run leader.
The Red Sox have been linked to first baseman ever since Triston Casas went down in May with a season-ending knee injury.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow declined to trade for a slugger before the July 31 MLB trade deadline. But last week he signed former Washington Nationals first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who looks at home in Boston. He’s hitting .438 with seven RBIs in six games for the Red Sox.
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According to Spotrac, Lowe has one more season of arbitration eligibility remaining.