ORLANDO, Fla. – In light of Pete Alonso reportedly coming to terms with the Orioles, we asked MLB Insider Mark Feinsand to break down what it means for the market.
With Pete Alonso gone, everyone is assuming the Mets are going to make a big move on the free-agent market. What is your best guess on what that might be?
President of baseball operations David Stearns has a lot of work to do in the coming weeks. With the departure of Alonso to Baltimore and the trade of Brandon Nimmo to Texas, the Mets now have two glaring needs in their everyday lineup at first base and in the outfield.
The top corner-infield options on the free-agent market are Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suárez – both third basemen – so they may not be ideal fits. Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, two Japanese stars who were recently posted, could be free-agent options at first base.
The more likely big-ticket targets are Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, whose markets should begin to pick up before too long. With the salaries of Alonso, Edwin Díaz and Nimmo off the books, there is plenty of room in the payroll to pursue one of the outfielders, who figure to command the most of any hitters remaining on the market.
The Mets are also looking to add a starting pitcher – Michael King remains a top target, though a trade for somebody like Freddy Peralta could be the preference – and another reliever, with Robert Suarez among the arms being discussed.
The Orioles finally made the big free agent move their fans have been clamoring for. Do you think they are done? And if not, who will they target?
I don’t believe the Orioles are finished. They remain in the hunt for a frontline starting pitcher – King and Framber Valdez are believed to be their top preferences – though as outlined above with the Mets, Baltimore could scour the trade market in search of that arm.
Even with a number of their top prospects graduating to the Majors in recent years, the Orioles have some attractive prospect chips to use in a trade. Slugging first baseman Coby Mayo, who struggled during his 85 games in the Majors this season (11 home runs, 28 RBIs and a .687 OPS), just turned 24 on Wednesday and could be coveted by a number of clubs.
The Orioles finally spent big on a free agent for the first time in years as they look to take advantage of this window while their young players aren’t making a lot of money. I don’t think Alonso was their lone move.
We’ve seen three of the top free agents (Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, and Díaz) agree to deals in the last two days … who will be next?
The guess here is either Suarez (the best reliever remaining on the market) or King, who is among the top starters available.
The relief market has been moving at a rapid pace this winter, with Díaz joining Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, Raisel Iglesias, Emilio Pagán and Kyle Finnegan on the list of free-agent bullpen arms to sign new deals.
Suarez is one of the few back-end types left on the market, with Pete Fairbanks, Kenley Jansen, Tyler Rogers and Luke Weaver also on that list.
King is likely to sign a shorter-term deal than Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez and Tatsuya Imai, making him a popular target among pitching-needy teams.
The Red Sox (a supposed Alonso suitor) and Yankees are two big-market teams that have been surprisingly quiet this winter. What do you think is holding them up, and where do you think they will turn?
Alonso was absolutely a target for the Red Sox, who are in need of a right-handed power bat. With Alonso and Schwarber off the market, Boston could look at one of the two Japanese sluggers to fill first base, where Triston Casas is no longer a given at the position.
In addition to first base, the Red Sox have a need at third base with Alex Bregman on the open market. A reunion with Bregman is possible, though Boston could look at Bo Bichette or Eugenio Suárez, while a trade – Houston’s Isaac Paredes is an option – could also be the play. There has also been ample buzz this week about a potential Boston trade for All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte.
As for the Yankees, their top priority remains a reunion with Bellinger, who excelled during his first season in the Bronx. Tucker is also a possibility for the Yankees, though sources say they prefer Bellinger between the two. One name you can likely cross off the list: Fernando Tatis Jr. Despite some rumblings this week about a potential trade that could send Tatis to the Yankees, sources say it’s highly unlikely that such a scenario will take place.
New York isn’t believed to be in the market for a top starting pitcher, though the Yankees are surely seeking more bullpen help with Williams and Weaver in free agency. Brad Keller is a name to watch, as he could potentially help fill a rotation spot until Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón return from injury, then shift into a bullpen/swing man role.