The New York Yankees have found their replacement for former Chicago Cubs World Series champion at first base. On Saturday, five-time Silver Slugger Paul Goldschmidt signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Yankees, effectively ruling out four-time All-Star Pete Alonso as an option for the Bronx Bombers.
With the Yankees addressing their first base need, the New York Mets have emerged as favorites to re-sign this offseason. While teams like the Washington Nationals could benefit from an upgrade at first base, Alonso’s chances of landing with a team outside of New York have been slim throughout the offseason.
This marks Alonso’s first foray into free agency after six years in the league, with his projected market value estimated at $242 million over seven years, according to Spotrac. Despite Mets owner Steven Cohen recently signing superstar outfielder Juan Soto to a record-setting $765 million deal, Cohen’s deep pockets position the Mets to outbid competitors for Alonso.
With Goldschmidt and former Arizona Diamondbacks four-time Gold Glove winner Christian Walker no longer available, retaining Alonso appears to be the Mets’ best option. Alternatively, the team could pursue less expensive options like Rizzo or former Minnesota Twins power hitter Carlos Santana.
However, Cohen’s focus remains on securing a World Series title—the Mets’ third in franchise history—and keeping fan favorite Alonso in Queens could be a critical part of that effort.
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