There has been speculation since spring that a major trade could occur between the New York Yankees and Mets, with the two big-market teams swapping their star sluggers.
The theory suggested that the Mets would aggressively pursue Yankees outfielder Juan Soto, and if they failed to land him, the Yankees would pivot to signing Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, giving the Bombers another powerful bat for their lineup.
This scenario was highlighted in an April article by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, titled “Juan Soto and Pete Alonso could trade places in free agency mega-swap scenario.”
However, seven months later, this idea now seems unlikely. While the Mets might still sign Soto, the Yankees’ pursuit of Alonso has become less clear. In fact, the Yankees may be better off looking at other options if they miss out on Soto.
Pete Alonso is a top-tier slugger, with a career average of 43 home runs per 162 games and four All-Star appearances. He hit 34 home runs in 2024, reinforcing his status as a power hitter. However, there are significant downsides.
Alonso’s offensive numbers, including a .788 OPS in 2024, were solid but not elite, and teams may hesitate to commit heavily to him given his defensive struggles. He plays first base, a non-premium position, but his defense is below average, and he also strikes out frequently and lacks speed.
With Alonso turning 30 in December, teams may be cautious about giving him a long-term contract.
In fact, SNY analysts are against the idea of the Yankees signing Alonso as a backup plan if they lose Soto. As SNY’s Phillip Martinez noted, Alonso’s offensive upside is undeniable, but the Yankees need to focus on improving their defense, not worsening it.
Signing Alonso would also require a significant financial commitment at a time when the Yankees need to address multiple roster holes—especially if they miss out on Soto.
Additionally, the Yankees’ long-term plan involves moving Aaron Judge from the outfield to first base. Signing a 30-year-old Alonso to a deal, which Spotrac projects could be around six years and $174 million, would complicate that plan, delaying Judge’s move to first base.
Martinez argued that committing to Alonso would undermine this future strategy, making him a poor fit for the Yankees.
