Red Sox Free Agent Target Sparks Social Media Frenzy After Cryptic Update
Along with Alex Bregman and other big-name stars, Pete Alonso is officially a free agent.
The All-Star slugger and potential Boston Red Sox free agent target opted out of the final year of his contract with the New York Mets earlier this week, foregoing his one-year, $24 million player option for 2026. Coming off a strong 2025 campaign where he smashed 38 homers and 41 doubles with 126 RBI, he believes he can land a much bigger deal this offseason.
While Alonso’s opting out was expected (he’s a Scott Boras client, after all), he caused a stir on social media this week by updating his Instagram profile picture after the news. He changed it from a picture of him with the Mets to a picture of him in college with the Florida Gators, perhaps signaling that he’s ready to move on from New York.
Alonso’s new profile picture sparked speculation and reactions from many Mets fans on X. Some are worried that he’s preparing to leave this winter, while others are ready to be done with him or think he’s just doing it as a negotiating tactic.
While New York can likely afford to pay Alonso whatever he wants, he may be looking for a change of scenery after the Mets’ stunning late-season collapse. The team has made the playoffs just twice in his seven seasons and hasn’t won the World Series since 1986, so he may want to join a more reliable contender.
Regardless, it will be interesting to see where the 30-year-old slugger masher ends up this offseason and whether his new profile picture ends up meaning anything.