The Toronto Blue Jays are once again on the losing end of a free-agent superstar chase. They join many teams in planning a contingency move in response to the failed Juan Soto signing. Which route should they pivot to? 
Willy Adames was a solid option on the market; however, the San Francisco Giants took advantage of the silence from the primary offseason buyers and landed Adames for seven years and $182 million. The Jays were also poking around on Max Fried before he signed with the Yankees on an eight-year deal at $218 million. 
The New York Mets pulled off one of the most valuable contracts to ever stand in sports. What does this mean for Toronto? Mets owner Steve Cohen may not spend much more elsewhere but fans have also seen him open his wallet when he is determined. This might leave first baseman Pete Alonso on the market and obtainable.  Now that the world knows the Blue Jays bid for Juan Soto was sitting in the $700 million area, other players and agents are taking notice. The one player this affects the most is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., with many fans hoping he signs a long-term extension with the team. 
First base and the three-four spot in the lineup are next on the priority list. Whether the Blue Jays decide to lock up Guerrero Jr. or not, they do need to add reinforcements to the lineup in response to last year’s lack of production. Alonso may be the best option available.  
Pete Alonso is the next best target on the market for the Blue Jays 
The four-time All-Star is currently in his prime years, putting up ecstatic numbers and solidifying production. Firstly, Alonso is extremely reliable and in good health.  
The 30-year-old has played in no less than 150 games in five out of the six seasons he has been in the league. His 57-game season was due to unforeseen world circumstances in 2020. In 2024, Alonso played in all 162 games, the majority of which were at the first base position.
Alonso’s productivity has also been consistent, with consecutive years of posting 25-plus home runs per season. In 2024, Alonso posted a .240/.329/.459 slash line and a .788 OPS, which is a slight dip from his normal numbers, but he continues to be consistent in the home run category. He collected 34 round-trippers last season with the Mets and added 88 RBIs &#8211; the lowest total of his career. While there was a bit of a decline in those areas, Alonso&#8217;s history of hitting for power is consistent &#8211; he&#8217;s surpassed the 30-home run mark across each season since his debut (outside of the condensed year) and has also added 20+ doubles each campaign as well. Last year, he collected a single-season high 31 doubles and played the hero in the playoffs for the Mets during their series with the Milwaukee Brewers. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Pete Alonso&#39;s home run, as called by <a href="https://twitter.com/Mets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mets</a> radio broadcaster Howie Rose 🐻‍❄️ <a href="https://t.co/6JnB1GW2ma">pic.twitter.com/6JnB1GW2ma</a>
&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1842027840155353514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
As a power hitter, Alonso is prone to striking out &#8211; sitting right at the MLB average for his career with a 22.8% strikeout rate &#8211; but he is not as prolific as other power-type hitters on the market. He also provides a ton of pop in the lineup,<a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/pete-alonso-624413?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb"> ranking</a> in the 84th percentile in batting run value last year, which would be considered a bit of a down year for the slugger, while also ranking in the 80th percentile or greater in hard-hit%, xSLG, barrel %, and bat speed.
Per <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/pete-alonso/19251/stats?position=1B/1000">Steamer</a>, the first baseman is projected to produce 36 home runs, 98 RBIs, and a 125 wRC+. 
Alonso and the Blue Jays 
The former Mets slugger has only played first base with some small stints at the DH spot, so he&#8217;s not the most versatile player from a defensive standpoint. Based on his good health, productivity, and on-field presence, Alonso would be required at first base for Toronto. This would push Gurrerro Jr. to third base and or a rotation of each player between first base and designated hitter unless Alonso was to transition to a full-time DH role. Ideally, managing the infield load for both players would be beneficial, especially on an injury-generating turf field, but both players do have a solid track record of staying healthy so far in their careers.
 The Blue Jays recently struck a deal in a three-team transaction, obtaining three-time Gold Glover second baseman Andres Gimenez. Toronto also gained right-handed pitcher Nick Sandlin in return for Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell, with Horwitz being flipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates shortly after. The Jays&#8217; second base concerns are now appeased, adding phenomenal defence to the right side of the infield while reducing some of the logjam that came at first base with Horwitz now no longer with the organization. With the left-handed batter still in the picture, he likely would have been sharing the first base/DH platoon with Guerrero that I mentioned above. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
&quot;I would say I&#39;d lean to him not being back next year.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGelbs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SteveGelbs</a> talks Pete Alonso&#39;s future with <a href="https://twitter.com/ConnorJRogers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ConnorJRogers</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/PSLToFlushing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PSLtoFlushing</a> on The Mets Pod: <a href="https://t.co/a2sEKdKTu9">https://t.co/a2sEKdKTu9</a>
SUBSCRIBE ✅ Apple: <a href="https://t.co/Zid9BvfE8t">https://t.co/Zid9BvfE8t</a> Spotify: <a href="https://t.co/fSALhra2fU">https://t.co/fSALhra2fU</a>
➡️ Tri-State <a href="https://twitter.com/Cadillac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cadillac</a> <a href="https://t.co/TeNuQVtD8E">pic.twitter.com/TeNuQVtD8E</a>
&mdash; SNY (@SNYtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNYtv/status/1867022514137833624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
At some point, the Jays will need to make a decision on Guerrero and his long-term future with the club. There is a scenario where the Jays can add Alonso and keep Guerrero but if the two sides think a deal is not in the cards, the former Met would be a good replacement for the Montreal-born slugger if he is either traded or tests free agent waters next winter. If both stay, Alonso and Guerrero Jr would be a perfect one-two punch in a very tough American League East but the front office would need to find the finances to make both deals happen. 
 <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/2024-25-top-50-mlb-free-agents-with-predictions.html">MLB Trade Rumours</a> has predicted a five-year, $125 million deal for the slugger which has him coming in at a $25 million AAV. 
Toronto must act quickly this winter, as teams will also try and rebound their lost signings toward another premier free agent with Alonso being one of the next players in line for a raise. Alonso offers confidence in big situations and within a big market environment. If Toronto is looking for a big bat and the club is not convinced about extending Guerrero past 2025 or wants to feature two of the biggest home run hitters in the game in the same lineup for years, then Alonso makes sense for this organization. 
&nbsp;

The Toronto Blue Jays are once again on the losing end of a free-agent superstar chase. They join many teams in planning a contingency move in response to the failed Juan Soto signing. Which route should they pivot to? 

Willy Adames was a solid option on the market; however, the San Francisco Giants took advantage of the silence from the primary offseason buyers and landed Adames for seven years and $182 million. The Jays were also poking around on Max Fried before he signed with the Yankees on an eight-year deal at $218 million. 

The New York Mets pulled off one of the most valuable contracts to ever stand in sports. What does this mean for Toronto? Mets owner Steve Cohen may not spend much more elsewhere but fans have also seen him open his wallet when he is determined. This might leave first baseman Pete Alonso on the market and obtainable.  Now that the world knows the Blue Jays bid for Juan Soto was sitting in the $700 million area, other players and agents are taking notice. The one player this affects the most is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., with many fans hoping he signs a long-term extension with the team. 

First base and the three-four spot in the lineup are next on the priority list. Whether the Blue Jays decide to lock up Guerrero Jr. or not, they do need to add reinforcements to the lineup in response to last year’s lack of production. Alonso may be the best option available.  

Pete Alonso is the next best target on the market for the Blue Jays 

The four-time All-Star is currently in his prime years, putting up ecstatic numbers and solidifying production. Firstly, Alonso is extremely reliable and in good health.  

The 30-year-old has played in no less than 150 games in five out of the six seasons he has been in the league. His 57-game season was due to unforeseen world circumstances in 2020. In 2024, Alonso played in all 162 games, the majority of which were at the first base position.

Alonso’s productivity has also been consistent, with consecutive years of posting 25-plus home runs per season. In 2024, Alonso posted a .240/.329/.459 slash line and a .788 OPS, which is a slight dip from his normal numbers, but he continues to be consistent in the home run category. He collected 34 round-trippers last season with the Mets and added 88 RBIs - the lowest total of his career. While there was a bit of a decline in those areas, Alonso's history of hitting for power is consistent - he's surpassed the 30-home run mark across each season since his debut (outside of the condensed year) and has also added 20+ doubles each campaign as well. Last year, he collected a single-season high 31 doubles and played the hero in the playoffs for the Mets during their series with the Milwaukee Brewers. 

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1842027840155353514

As a power hitter, Alonso is prone to striking out - sitting right at the MLB average for his career with a 22.8% strikeout rate - but he is not as prolific as other power-type hitters on the market. He also provides a ton of pop in the lineup,<a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/pete-alonso-624413?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb"> ranking</a> in the 84th percentile in batting run value last year, which would be considered a bit of a down year for the slugger, while also ranking in the 80th percentile or greater in hard-hit%, xSLG, barrel %, and bat speed.

Per <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/pete-alonso/19251/stats?position=1B/1000">Steamer</a>, the first baseman is projected to produce 36 home runs, 98 RBIs, and a 125 wRC+. 

Alonso and the Blue Jays 

The former Mets slugger has only played first base with some small stints at the DH spot, so he's not the most versatile player from a defensive standpoint. Based on his good health, productivity, and on-field presence, Alonso would be required at first base for Toronto. This would push Gurrerro Jr. to third base and or a rotation of each player between first base and designated hitter unless Alonso was to transition to a full-time DH role. Ideally, managing the infield load for both players would be beneficial, especially on an injury-generating turf field, but both players do have a solid track record of staying healthy so far in their careers.

 The Blue Jays recently struck a deal in a three-team transaction, obtaining three-time Gold Glover second baseman Andres Gimenez. Toronto also gained right-handed pitcher Nick Sandlin in return for Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell, with Horwitz being flipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates shortly after. The Jays' second base concerns are now appeased, adding phenomenal defence to the right side of the infield while reducing some of the logjam that came at first base with Horwitz now no longer with the organization. With the left-handed batter still in the picture, he likely would have been sharing the first base/DH platoon with Guerrero that I mentioned above. 

https://twitter.com/SNYtv/status/1867022514137833624

At some point, the Jays will need to make a decision on Guerrero and his long-term future with the club. There is a scenario where the Jays can add Alonso and keep Guerrero but if the two sides think a deal is not in the cards, the former Met would be a good replacement for the Montreal-born slugger if he is either traded or tests free agent waters next winter. If both stay, Alonso and Guerrero Jr would be a perfect one-two punch in a very tough American League East but the front office would need to find the finances to make both deals happen. 

 <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/2024-25-top-50-mlb-free-agents-with-predictions.html">MLB Trade Rumours</a> has predicted a five-year, $125 million deal for the slugger which has him coming in at a $25 million AAV. 

Toronto must act quickly this winter, as teams will also try and rebound their lost signings toward another premier free agent with Alonso being one of the next players in line for a raise. Alonso offers confidence in big situations and within a big market environment. If Toronto is looking for a big bat and the club is not convinced about extending Guerrero past 2025 or wants to feature two of the biggest home run hitters in the game in the same lineup for years, then Alonso makes sense for this organization. 

&nbsp;

An in-depth look at the Blue Jays pivot options this offseason – 1B Pete Alonso

Blue Jays avoid arbitration with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. but now it’s their turn to swing for the fences

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium

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