The Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to one of the best remaining sluggers in free agency.

According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, who appeared on MLB Network on Saturday, the Blue Jays are one of several teams with interest in Pete Alonso.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Giants, Mariners, Jays, Mets 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonHeyman</a> reveals who&#39;s reportedly currently in the mix for free agent slugger Pete Alonso. <a href="https://t.co/BeQOrd3n4e">pic.twitter.com/BeQOrd3n4e</a>
&mdash; MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1873112437240828347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Of course, they’re seen as the front-runner by numerous sources to land Anthony Santander. At this point, I think Blue Jay fans would be happy with either (or both) considering this off-season is shaping up to be eerily similar to last off-season.
Alonso is a right-handed batting first baseman who slashed .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs in 695 plate appearances with the New York Mets. Overall, he finished with a 2.1 fWAR and a 122 wRC+, down from the 46 home runs he hit in 2023.
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The first baseman’s best season was in his rookie season back in 2019 where he slashed .260/.358/.583 with a career-high 53 home runs in 693 plate appearances for a 144 wRC+ and a 4.7 fWAR. Funnily enough, he beat Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the home run derby that year, one of many that Alonso has participated in
Speaking of Guerrero Jr., the big question is, does Pete Alonso even fit for the Jays? Guerrero Jr. is the best first baseman in all of baseball, largely in part due to his bat, but he grew up playing third base and a move there could be a realistic option.
After the trade deadline, Guerrero Jr. played a bit of third base, finishing the season with 100 innings at the hot corner, the most since his 824.1 innings at the position in his rookie season in 2019. Interestingly, his defensive metrics have improved since then, as he had 1 Outs Above Average in the small sample size. This was significantly better than the -20 OAA he had in 2019 at third base, as his OAA was one of the worst totals in the league.
Alternatively, the Jays could use Alonso as a designated hitter, sparingly using him at first base when Guerrero Jr. needs a game off. Neither he nor Guerrero Jr. are particularly good defensively at first base, so allowing Alonso to focus solely on mashing home runs as the clean-up hitter could be ideal.
There isn’t much of a fit positionally, but adding around 40 home runs in the lineup would be a nice addition for the Blue Jays, made even better if they can get Alonso and Santander. That wouldn’t solve all of the Blue Jays&#8217; problems, but it would be a great start.
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As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
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The Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to one of the best remaining sluggers in free agency.



According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, who appeared on MLB Network on Saturday, the Blue Jays are one of several teams with interest in Pete Alonso.

https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1873112437240828347

Of course, they’re seen as the front-runner by numerous sources to land Anthony Santander. At this point, I think Blue Jay fans would be happy with either (or both) considering this off-season is shaping up to be eerily similar to last off-season.

Alonso is a right-handed batting first baseman who slashed .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs in 695 plate appearances with the New York Mets. Overall, he finished with a 2.1 fWAR and a 122 wRC+, down from the 46 home runs he hit in 2023.
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The first baseman’s best season was in his rookie season back in 2019 where he slashed .260/.358/.583 with a career-high 53 home runs in 693 plate appearances for a 144 wRC+ and a 4.7 fWAR. Funnily enough, he beat Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the home run derby that year, one of many that Alonso has participated in

Speaking of Guerrero Jr., the big question is, does Pete Alonso even fit for the Jays? Guerrero Jr. is the best first baseman in all of baseball, largely in part due to his bat, but he grew up playing third base and a move there could be a realistic option.

After the trade deadline, Guerrero Jr. played a bit of third base, finishing the season with 100 innings at the hot corner, the most since his 824.1 innings at the position in his rookie season in 2019. Interestingly, his defensive metrics have improved since then, as he had 1 Outs Above Average in the small sample size. This was significantly better than the -20 OAA he had in 2019 at third base, as his OAA was one of the worst totals in the league.

Alternatively, the Jays could use Alonso as a designated hitter, sparingly using him at first base when Guerrero Jr. needs a game off. Neither he nor Guerrero Jr. are particularly good defensively at first base, so allowing Alonso to focus solely on mashing home runs as the clean-up hitter could be ideal.

There isn’t much of a fit positionally, but adding around 40 home runs in the lineup would be a nice addition for the Blue Jays, made even better if they can get Alonso and Santander. That wouldn’t solve all of the Blue Jays' problems, but it would be a great start.

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As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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Report: Blue Jays are interested in Pete Alonso

Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Nathan Lukes (38) is congratulated by third baseman Addison Barger (47) after he hit a home run during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

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