Pete Alonso is headed to the Orioles on a five-year, $155 million contract, a deal confirmed by an AP source. The agreement, still subject to a physical, marks a high-profile addition for Baltimore after a disappointing last-place finish in the AL East.
The slugger posted a .272 batting average with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs for the Mets, delivering an .871 OPS—the best mark he’s posted since his rookie season in 2019 when he belted 53 homers. The 31-year-old first baseman, who just celebrated his birthday, has accumulated 264 homers across seven seasons with New York and earned All-Star nods in five seasons, including the last four.
Affectionately nicknamed the Polar Bear, Alonso became a crowd favorite in Citi Field as a homegrown star. He captured NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2019, highlighted by a .260 average, a rookies-record 53 homers, and 120 RBIs. He reached a career-best 131 RBIs in 2022.
In 2023, Alonso’s production dipped to a .217 average, though he still hit 46 homers and drove in 118 runs. The following year, he hit .240 with 34 homers and 88 RBIs.
After a sluggish free-agent market last winter, Alonso re-signed with the Mets on a $54 million, two-year deal, then opted out of the final year, forfeiting $24 million. He previously declined a seven-year, $158 million offer from New York in 2023 that would have covered 2024–30, ultimately moving toward a total of about $205.5 million across seven seasons, a roughly 30% increase overall.
During the winter meetings in Orlando, Alonso met with several teams. His agent, Scott Boras, noted that Alonso now resides in Tampa, joking that the warmer climate has helped thaw the polar vortex of the previous season, hinting at a more favorable market environment.
Baltimore’s championship trajectory—the Orioles won the AL East in 2023 and made the playoffs as a wild card in the previous season—took a hit in 2025 due to underwhelming numbers from both the pitching staff and the lineup. Alonso’s addition injects a veteran power bat into the middle of the order, offering manager Craig Albernaz flexibility with Rutschman and Basallo handling catcher and designated-hitter duties, while Basallo could also find at-bats at first base. Alonso’s recent durability has him playing near-full seasons at first base over the last two years.
With Mountcastle’s position potentially shifting to free agency after 2026 and rising prospect Coby Mayo waiting in the wings, the Orioles’ lineup could see some reconfiguration. Even so, Alonso’s presence provides Baltimore with a credible anchor as they evaluate a longer-term balance between veterans and youth. The move also signals a willingness to pursue top free agents outside the shorter-term deals that had defined recent years.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore celebrated the news with a lighthearted remark on social media, joking that “Christmas came early” for Orioles fans. Earlier this offseason, Baltimore had already added reliever Ryan Helsley and traded for outfielder Taylor Ward, signaling an aggressive approach to reshaping the roster.
Meanwhile, the Mets faced a series of changes: they lost Alonso a day after closer Edwin Díaz agreed to a three-year, $93 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and they traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to Texas for Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien. New York, one of baseball’s biggest spenders this year, still missed the postseason.
Source notes: AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report, and the exchange of information followed typical reporting protocols for pending deals.
If you’re following the broader implications, what elements of this signing will most influence Baltimore’s performance in the coming seasons, and how might other teams respond to a high-profile, long-term commitment like this?
