Red Sox Free Agency Rumors: AL Rival Will Pass on All-Star Slugger

Nothing to see here, Boston Red Sox fans. If chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is serious about pursuing New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso in free agency, he won’t have to worry about bumping into New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

“A serious run at Pete Alonso seems unlikely with Ben Rice seemingly in line to take over as the full-time first baseman, but Edwin Díaz makes sense if the Yankees wanted to check in Queens,” MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reports. “They’ll also look overseas: The Yankees have been connected to two Japanese stars — corner infielders Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto.”

Pinstripe Power?

Last month, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman said the Red Sox will face competition from their blood rivals.

“I think the Yankees also, at least some people with the Yankees do like Alonso,” Heyman reported. “They have that first base open. Would they go for another big right-handed bat? I’m not positive on that one. I know there’s some light there for Alonso.

“Certainly Hal Steinbrenner is a guy who does like him. They’re both Gators. And not just from Florida. Went to Florida. Hal went there as a graduate student. Pete was a ballplayer and a student,” Heyman noted.

Other Suitors

The MLB insider also noted the Houston Astros could be in the mix.

Last week, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden listed the Red Sox, Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers as the prime contenders for Alonso, with an expected price tag of six years and $182 million.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports the San Francisco Giants also make sense for Alonso.

A five-time All-Star, Alonso was a free agent last winter and didn’t find a multi-year, nine-figure contract to his liking so he returned to the Mets, who gave him a two-year, $54 million deal with an opt-out clause.

The two-time Home Run Derby champion said after the regular season ended he will opt out of his contract and hit the open market.

The 30-year-old Alonso hit 38 home runs this season, which was eighth-best in the majors, and drove in 126 runs, second only to Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber.

Alonso, a home-grown Mets star, spent seven seasons in Queens. This year he became the franchise’s all-time home run leader, surpassing eight-time All-Star Darryl Strawberry.

The Red Sox spent much of the 2025 campaign trying to find a fit at first base after watching Triston Casas go down with a season-ending knee injury.

In the Red Sox’s end-of-season press conference, Breslow didn’t want to commit to Casas as the team’s first baseman for 2026.