The Yankees need a first baseman after declining Anthony Rizzo’s club option, but it won’t be as easy as it seems.
Rizzo delivered a steadying presence at first base, with Gold Glove-caliber defense. He was also solid offensively, but injuries have seemingly sapped Rizzo of his power in recent years.
So as the Yankees are to try and repeat as American League Offensive Team of the Year, they’ll need a bit more pop — and who better to do that than Pete Alonso?
Sure, there are plenty of other free agent options this offseason. Outside of Alonso, Christian Walker is another great option, while older vets like Carlos Santana, Paul Goldschmidt and Justin Turner are also available. There’s also the possibility the Yankees bring Rizzo back to end his career in pinstripes.
Do the Yanks want a defensive stalwart with some pop like what they had in Rizzo, or a first baseman with a higher offensive ceiling like Alonso? Here are the pros and cons of bringing the Polar Bear to the Bronx…
PROS
Any argument for Alonso starts with his offense. The four-time All-Star has hit 226 home runs since he entered the league in 2019, the same year he set the rookie mark with 53 home runs — beating Aaron Judge‘s 52. He has not hit fewer than 34 homers in a 162-game season and has reached 100 RBI in three of those five full years.
Compare those numbers to Rizzo’s. The 2022 campaign was Rizzo’s best offensive season in his three-plus years with the Yankees. That season, he smashed 32 homers, drove in 75 runs, and had an OPS of .817. While Rizzo’s injuries hampered him over the last two seasons — he appeared in fewer than 100 games both years — Alonso is an iron man. He’s played in at least 152 games every season that wasn’t 2020 and played in all 162 games in 2024.
Alonso — who will turn 30 in December — is also younger than Walker and can be the first baseman for the foreseeable future.
CONS
The Yankees may be strapped for cash this offseason if they re-sign Juan Soto, so the money to bring Alonso in may be too rich for Hal Steinbrenner‘s blood.
The Mets also offered the $21.05 million qualifying offer, just like Arizona did for Walker so signing Alonso would mean giving up a draft pick, which GM Brian Cashman will have to consider in his calculations.
Money aside, while Alonso’s offense is elite for his position, those numbers have begun to dip. His OPS went from .869 in 2022 to .788 in 2024, the lowest of his career, and his strikeouts have increased as well. They went from 128 in 2022 to 172 in 2024, the most since his rookie season. Perhaps this past season can be forgotten if you believe the pressure of going into his walk year played a role, but that also would say something about his perseverance and ability to overcome adversity.
And playing for a fanbase as rabid for a World Series title as the Yankees, struggling may turn them against Alonso — possibly leading him to suffer the same fate as some free agents of the past.
Alonso’s defense also leaves a lot to be desired. While not the worst defensive first baseman, his -3 DRS in 2024 doesn’t inspire trust at that position. And with some of the questionable defensive players already in the infield, the Yankees need a great glove at first base.
New York’s lineup is also already too right-handed dominant, and adding Alonso would not fix that. If the Yanks do bring in the Polar Bear, they would have to add quite a few left-handers to balance out their lineup or risk having a repeat of 2022-23.
Finally, Alonso’s age works against him with the Yankees. He would likely command a longer-term deal and hold down first base. And it’s likely the Yankees would want to eventually put Judge at first base to save him from the wear-and-tear of the outfield — but they wouldn’t be able to do that with Alonso there.
VERDICT
Alonso might be the highest-profile hitter this offseason not named Soto, but that doesn’t mean he’s a good fit with every team. And that includes the Yankees. While his offensive upside is great, the Yanks need to improve their defense, not regress. Alonso would also require a lot of money from a team that needs to fill more than one hole — especially if Soto signs elsewhere.
And with Judge potentially moving to first base, a 30-year-old Alonso would just be in the way of that plan.
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