Coming off a stellar 2023 campaign, the Baltimore Orioles are determined to take the subsequent phase in 2024. Is a blockbuster trade their best hope of performing so?
If so, there’s arguably no team better positioned to pull off such a shift.
Baltimore entered the season with the amount 1 farm process in the MLB, and they’ve shown they are not afraid to put prospective buyers in the center to pull off these a deal.
Enter the New York Mets and Pete Alonso, who Guide MLB Author Zachary D. Rymer tabbed as a prospective match for the Orioles need to they request external upgrades this period in an April 2 column for Bleacher Report.
Alonso, fresh new off of an All-Star season in 2023, creates dwelling operates and RBIs at a clip over most in the MLB.
“Those are Alonso’s specialties, as he potential customers all hitters with 193 house runs and 499 operates batted in considering that 2019,” Rymer wrote. “He’s a textbook definition of a middle-of-the-buy hitter, and there’s under no circumstances been a crew that couldn’t have been enhanced by incorporating one particular of individuals.”
Rymer also cited the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and San Diego Padres as teams that would be a in good shape for Alonso.
A Mets Extension Looks Unlikely for Alonso
Alonso is in his last time beneath Mets handle, right after signing five consecutive one particular-yr offers because 2020.
But the 29-year-previous is only finding more mature. And the Mets, very well, they’re not getting any better. New York’s had just one earlier mentioned .500 complete in their past 4 seasons, and they are winless via four games to start 2024.
That, in mixture with group proprietor Steve Cohen’s latest feedback, will make an extension seem to be increasingly unlikely.
Cohen informed ESPN on March 17, “We have not experienced any dialogue and I imagine at this issue, for Pete, it’s finest for him to go and have a wonderful year and not be distracted,” when questioned about a potential Alonso extension.
Spotrac projects the Mets starting up very first baseman to internet a nine-calendar year, $292-million offer occur 2024 no cost company.
If there is really been tiny to no traction on an extension, then Alonso might have certainly played his closing Opening Working day activity as a Satisfied.
But if he’s on the way out of the Significant Apple, does Baltimore make perception?
Why Would the Orioles Trade for Alonso?
Two items ought to stand out to groups searching at getting Alonso: his bat and his selling price tag.
Baltimore’s time-opening collection in opposition to the Los Angeles Angels showed they are capable of changing huge hits. They won the sequence with two out of 3 wins, but even with a reduction managed a 14-run scoring differential.
Then there’s the price tag tag. What could Alonso net on the trade market?
MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel wrote “He’ll make extra than $20 million in his last yr of arbitration because of his big counting stats, so his trade value is middling: a little something like a prospect that ranks in the 101-200 spot of a prospect list,” in a December 23 column for ESPN.
That’s a small price to pay for an All-Star first baseman.
If you component Alonso’s potency at the plate with what it would just take to get him, it appears a trade worthy of taking into consideration, even with the Orioles bats somewhat hot to begin the time.
And specifically if Baltimore is on the lookout to set previous season’s AL Division Sequence elimination firmly in the rearview.
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This write-up was initially revealed on Significant.com
The put up Orioles Connected to Trade for Projected $292 Million Celebrity appeared initial on Hefty.com.
