The Toronto Blue Jays have had a tough go in free company over the past couple of years, however they’re beginning to make up for misplaced time.
After being shut out on huge names like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, the Jays just lately nabbed free agent outfielder Anthony Santander. It appears like they aren’t performed, with free agent slugger Pete Alonso reportedly on their radar and probably getting near transferring north of the border.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported Thursday that the Blue Jays and Alonso are “advancing” of their talks. Martino, a New York Mets insider who has coated Alonso all through his profession, did warning nothing is ready in stone and a proper settlement is not any assure.
That being mentioned, as soon as there’s smoke on these types of issues, the fireplace sometimes follows relatively shortly.
Signing Alonso can be a captivating transfer for Toronto on a number of ranges. The obvious is that it might add one other huge bat to an already stable lineup. Santander signed with Toronto after hitting a median of 35 house runs per season over the past three years, together with a career-high 44 dingers in 2024. Alonso, in the meantime, is a mannequin of power-hitting consistency with no fewer than 34 house runs in any full season since breaking in, and solely Aaron Choose has gone deep greater than Alonso since 2019.
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If Toronto does persuade Alonso to signal, although, it presents a probably awkward scenario with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The four-time All-Star was Toronto’s full-time first baseman over the past 4 seasons. He might transfer again throughout the diamond to 3rd base, or one of many two might function designated hitter. Nonetheless, Guerrero’s contract standing — he’ll be a free agent after 2025 — have to be thought-about. He’ll get a large deal — one which considerably dwarfs what Alonso may land — and Toronto may not be ready to make that work.
As for a crew just like the Boston Pink Sox, who might use one other right-handed bat to steadiness the lineup, seeing Alonso find yourself in Toronto wouldn’t be nice. The Pink Sox have been reportedly exhibiting some degree of curiosity in Alonso, and simply seeing him go to an American League East crew wouldn’t be ideally suited. It might additionally imply the Sox improve their efforts to signal somebody like Alex Bregman earlier than spring coaching begins in a number of weeks — though it appears like that market is perhaps heating up, too.
