First baseman Pete Alonso has agreed to a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, leaving the New York Mets after his entire career with the team. The deal comes after the Orioles missed out on Kyle Schwarber and pivots to add a proven power hitter to their lineup. Alonso, who turned 31 this month, ranked as a top free agent following a strong 2025 season.
The MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando concluded with several major moves, but Pete Alonso's departure from the New York Mets to join the Baltimore Orioles stood out as a pivotal signing. Sources including ESPN's Jeff Passan and The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal confirmed the five-year, $155 million pact, marking the largest free-agent deal in Orioles history under president of baseball operations Mike Elias.
Alonso, a five-time All-Star, spent his entire professional career with the Mets but sought long-term security after opting out of a shorter deal last winter. He reportedly turned down initial Mets offers limited to three years and attracted interest from teams like the Boston Red Sox and Orioles. The Mets never submitted a formal offer beyond that threshold, leading to his exit alongside outfielder Brandon Nimmo's trade and closer Edwin Diaz's move to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million deal.
For the Orioles, who were rebuffed in their pursuit of designated hitter Kyle Schwarber—now back with the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million extension—Alonso provides a middle-of-the-order slugger. In 2025, Alonso hit .272 with a .524 slugging percentage, rebuilding his value after a down 2024. Advanced metrics highlight his power, though his average exit velocity ranked low at 93.5 mph.
Mets president David Stearns emphasized adding to the bullpen, noting excitement over acquiring Devin Williams as their new closer. Orioles fans, long awaiting bold spending, see this as a signal of aggressiveness, pairing Alonso with recent additions like outfielder Taylor Ward and reliever Ryan Helsley.
The signing underscores the demand for power hitters over 30, as agent Scott Boras noted Schwarber's deal accelerated the market. Alonso's move leaves the Mets searching for first-base options, with internal discussions about platooning Jeff McNeil and potentially signing Paul Goldschmidt.