The Baltimore Orioles have reached a $155 million, five-year agreement with power hitter Pete Alonso, according to a source familiar with the deal. The agreement is pending a physical examination.
This deal marks a significant move for the Orioles, who expressed a commitment to being proactive after finishing in last place. Alonso had an impressive season with the New York Mets, batting .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs, boasting an .871 OPS, his highest since his standout rookie year in 2019 when he hit 53 home runs.
Nicknamed the “Polar Bear,” Alonso, who recently turned 31, has been a standout player for the Mets over seven seasons, hitting a total of 264 home runs. He has been named an All-Star five times, including in each of the past four years.
Alonso, a fan favorite at Citi Field, earned the NL Rookie of the Year title in 2019 after hitting .260 with a rookie record of 53 home runs and 120 RBIs. He reached a career-high of 131 RBIs in 2022.
Despite a slight dip in his batting average in 2023 to .217, Alonso still managed to hit 46 home runs and drive in 118 runs. In 2024, he batted .240 with 34 home runs and 88 RBIs. Last winter, Alonso signed a two-year, $54 million contract with the Mets, opting out of the final year.
The Orioles, who won the AL East in 2023 and secured a wild card spot last year, experienced a decline in performance in 2025 due to pitching and offensive struggles. The addition of Alonso, along with young talents like Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Jordan Westburg, aims to bolster the team’s lineup.
Alonso’s versatility in playing first base provides the Orioles with a seasoned power hitter, offering flexibility for the team’s new manager, Craig Albernaz. This signing raises questions about playing time for other players like Ryan Mountcastle and prospect Coby Mayo.
While the Orioles still seek pitching reinforcements after a lackluster 2025 season, acquiring Alonso demonstrates their readiness to secure top free agents after focusing on short-term deals in recent times.
Reacting to the news, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore expressed excitement, stating, “Christmas came early.” The Orioles previously signed reliever Ryan Helsley and acquired outfielder Taylor Ward this offseason.
On the other hand, the Mets lost Alonso shortly after closer Edwin Diaz departed for a new deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In a separate baseball development, the Toronto Blue Jays selected right-hander Spencer Miles from the San Francisco Giants in the major-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Miles, a 25-year-old pitcher, returned to the Arizona Fall League this year following Tommy John surgery in 2024. Standing at six-foot-three and weighing 180 pounds, Miles showcased promising performance in the league.
The Rule 5 draft picks are directly added to the drafting team’s 26-man roster and must go through outright waivers to be removed in the following season.
