After Juan Soto signed a historic contract with the New York Mets, there's an opportunity for the New York Yankees to soften the blow by landing a beloved star from Queens.
With a massive need to upgrade the first base position, the Yankees are turning over every option. A potential trade for Cody Bellinger could be in the works, and there has been off-and-on interest in Gold Glove winner Christian Walker.
However, the bigger name on the market is Pete Alonso, who has spent his six-year MLB career endearing himself to the fanbase in Queens.
With Soto's $765 million deal official, the Mets may not be able to retain Alonso at his asking price. The Yankees could probably afford to swing that deal, and there's reportedly some mutual interest, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
"The Yankees are also considering Alonso or Walker. Alonso, beloved in Queens, is also said to have some interest in going to the Yankees if the Mets show serious interest. (The Yankees also might not mind poaching Alonso after their $760M bid to retain superstar Juan Soto was topped by the Mets’ winning offer of $765M.)," Heyman wrote.
Alonso would be a strong fit for a Yankees lineup that needs to add more pop at first base and protection for star Aaron Judge.
Though the Yankees would prefer a lefty, Alonso's steady power would be an ideal fit in the middle of the lineup.
Failing to re-sign Soto has allowed the Yankees to free up money to fill out other needs on the roster. They already signed left-handed ace Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal.
This will be something to monitor as the hot stove continues to burn, especially since the Yankees may feel they're getting a bit of revenge after missing out on Soto.
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