It’s no secret that the Boston Red Sox are among the potential landing spots being tossed around for Pete Alonso. Alonso’s wife Haley is originally from Boston, and rumors about the Polar Bear possibly trading one northeast metro area for another have been swirling since last year’s foray with the free agency market.
The slugger is a right handed power bat that the Sox desperately need, with the 2025 lineup sporting a decidedly left handed slant. The lack of power in the lineup was noticeable in the second half of the season, as well, and particularly heading into the playoffs. Alonso was a .278 hitter in 2025, with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs on the season, offering good contact and plenty of pop. He bested last season's walk year, and without Juan Soto complicating things Alonso is likely to have a much more lucrative winter heading into 2026.
Naturally, plenty of teams will be interested in kicking the tires on Alonso. However, Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report recently put out the idea that Boston and a surprising National League club stand as frontrunners for his talents: San Francisco, of all places.
Among the most talked-about trades of the 2025 season, when the Red Sox unceremoniously shipped Rafael Devers off to the west coast, it changed the course ahead for numerous franchises. Buster Posey’s Giants almost immediately fell into a slump, and even a late-season resurgence from Devers couldn’t help the team make the playoffs in the current expanded format. With Devers happy to glove up and stand in at first for the Giants while also taking at-bats as the team’s DH on other days, it’s perhaps odd that San Fran would be a potential favorite to land Alonso’s services.
Bleacher Report names Giants alongside Red Sox as top contender for free agent Pete Alonso
He's reportedly looking for a seven-plus year deal, almost guaranteeing that some or even much of his contract will involve years primarily serving as a designated hitter. Beaston doesn’t go into any detail on why San Francisco stands out, but it’s worth noting that the team is currently slated to employ Matt Chapman at third through 2030 (his age-37 season). Devers, too, will become a free agent at 37, but his contract runs through 2033. The Giants also have Bryce Eldridge knocking on the door at first base, having been called up this year. Either Chapman or Devers would become obvious trade candidates if the Giants are actually serious contenders for Alonso, but crazier things have happened!
Before ever considering San Francisco’s position in the Alonso sweepstakes, it’s worth noting that Boston’s top brass have largely been hesitant about spending money lately. While some big talk seems to be getting tossed around in the moment, once the dust settles on 2025, it may go back to business as usual in Boston’s front office. If that’s the case, fans should anticipate the Sox either resigning Alex Bregman or succeeding in drawing Alonso to Fenway, but not both; and it’s even possible that we’ll miss out on both outcomes.
However, if the team is actually going to invest in a competitive force that can stand up to both the Yankees and the juggernaut taking shape north of the border, starting pitching is a problem area that needs to be addressed this offseason. Even with a free spending attitude, Alonso may end up as a lower priority for a club seeking to alleviate outfield pressure and sign a No. 2 starter.