The Baltimore Orioles finally made the major free-agent splash they had been signaling all offseason, landing star first baseman Pete Alonso on a five-year, $155 million contract that reshapes both their lineup and the dynamics of the American League East. The move comes one day after the club narrowly missed out on Kyle Schwarber, who chose Philadelphia despite Baltimore matching the Phillies’ offer.
For Orioles president and general manager Mike Elias, the signing represents the organization’s biggest financial commitment to a free agent in his tenure and a clear indication that Baltimore intends to accelerate its climb back into playoff contention. After finishing last in the AL East at 75-87 and struggling badly at first base, the club made middle-of-order power a priority. Alonso immediately fills that void.
Alonso spent seven seasons with the New York Mets, becoming the franchise’s all-time home run leader. Although the Mets were rumored to hold interest in bringing him back, reports indicated the organization never formally made an offer. That left Baltimore positioned to secure the top right-handed slugger on the market.
The four-time All-Star is coming off a season in which he hit 38 home runs with a 144 OPS-plus, extending a career that has averaged 37 homers per season since 2019. His 264 home runs over that stretch trail only Kyle Schwarber and Aaron Judge. Advanced metrics suggest his power should continue to play well into his early thirties, with barrel rates and expected slugging data among the best in baseball.
While Alonso’s defense and baserunning lag behind his offensive production, the Orioles see him fitting cleanly into a lineup now anchored by Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and newly acquired Taylor Ward. Alonso and Ward combined for 74 home runs last year, a dramatic upgrade for a team that received only 14 home runs and 60 RBIs from its first basemen in 2024.
Baltimore is also expected to remain active in the pitching market, with top available starters such as Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez still unsigned. Meanwhile, the Mets move forward in a period of transition under baseball operations president David Stearns, having already seen Alonso, Edwin Díaz and Brandon Nimmo depart while adding Devin Williams and Marcus Semien.
Source: sportsnet