The Chicago Cubs continue to be linked to New York Mets first baseman free agent Pete Alonso.
While nobody has actually linked the Cubs front office to having serious interest in Alonso (or even any minor, fleeting interest for that matter), fans and media continue to mention the possible Chicago-Alonso union.
A Chicago Cubs-Pete Alonso Union Is A Great Story
And, who can blame them, really? Alonso carries a big, powerful bat and the Cubs have not really had a true slugger in their lineup in quite some time. A potential 40-home run asset in the middle of the Cubs’ lineup, somewhere between Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki is a dream scenario.
Dustin Riese of CubsHQ, for example, recently offered his take on the Pete Alonso-to-the-Cubs storyline:
“As odd as it may sound, Alonso to the Cubs makes too much sense, and there are various rumors that it seems likely that he could land in Chicago. Much of that has to do with Michael Busch’s versatility, as they could move Busch back to third, which was his natural position, to clear a path for Alonso…
Coming off a season where he saw his average hover around .240, Alonso did improve from 2023, which is all you can ask for in a player. Even if the average isn’t what it used to be, his power will remain the same as his 34 homers and 88 RBIs will show that. Both are down from where they have been, but they would have led the Cubs last season. Put his bat together with Tucker and Seiya Suzuki and big things could happen for the veteran slugger.”
Could Alonso Work In Chicago?
As things stand right now, the Cubs have been linked to arms and not all that many bats, aside from a few infielders.
But could an Alonso deal work?
In theory, yes.
Alonso coming in would mean Michael Busch moving off to third base or second base– two positions where he’s actually seen more playing time in the minors than first base. As Riese mentioned in his article, a move to second would probably only come if Nico Hoerner were traded or unable to return after his offseason surgery. A move to third would likely mean another year of seasoning in the minors for top prospect Matt Shaw, which wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen. The Cubs shouldn’t be in a rush to bring the big-ceiling Shaw to Wrigley.
The offensive up side of such a move is obvious. Adding Tucker and Alonso (despite the subtraction of Cody Bellinger) would make for a powerhouse lineup. Alonso IS the kind of offensive threat who can get hot and carry a team on his shoulders for days at a time.
But Don’t Get Your Hopes Up
Realistically, though, the Cubs signing Alonso is an extreme long shot. Alsono has reportedly turned down Mets’ offers of seven years for $158 million and three years for $90 million. This means that the 30-year-old is probably expecting in excess of $30 million a year on a multi-year deal.
Needless to say, the Cubs aren’t likely to put up that kind of long-term guarantee for a player who absolutely does not fit their preferred player profile (versatile, defensively-sound, contact hitter). In reality, the Cubs may not be interested in that kind of long-term, big-money entanglement with anyone.
So, dream on folks. Pete Alonso MAY be able to work in Chicago, but he’s not going to get a chance.
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