The Tampa Bay Rays have been known for their carefulness in the free-agent market. Recent developments suggest that the team might be open to spending big in this off-season’s bidding wars. Historically, the Rays have been reluctant to hand out major contracts. It is clear by their largest free agent deal, a three-year, $40 million contract for Zach Eflin, whom they traded after just two years. 

However, they’ve shown some willingness to flex their financial muscle in recent years; notably, with their interest in Freddie Freeman when Atlanta made him available a few winters ago, and more recently, their reported outreach to Juan Soto and Pete Alonso. As the Rays look toward a new stadium set to open in St. Petersburg in 2028, the prospect of adding a hometown hero like Pete Alonso, a Tampa native and Plant High School alum, could be the perfect move. 

Tampa Bay Rays and Pete Alonso’s deep connection  

Pete Alonso may not get his wish of having a new ballpark built near Armature Works in Tampa. Although the idea of a former Mets first baseman launching his career in a new Rays stadium in Pinellas County is an interesting one. The possibility of a real local star returning home might just be the one. It might get Rays owner Stuart Sternberg to spend a little more than usual. Sternberg is likely to remain as “efficient” as possible with the Rays’ payroll. “Tampa is a super-baseball-rich city,” Alonso said, according to The Tampa Bay Times. 

With the right circumstances, the Rays could be ready to make a bigger investment than they ever have before. Alonso is a  two-time All-Star and the holder of the MLB rookie home run record with 53 in 2019. The free agent has solidified his place as one of the game’s top power hitters. His 146 career home runs and 131 RBIs last season, helped push the Mets back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Despite his success, Alonso has never forgotten his roots in Tampa. The place where his passion for baseball was first ignited.

Alonso giving back to his hometown

Alonso brought a unique event to his roots in Tampa this last year. The first baseman hosted ‘Pete Alonso’s Battle for the Bay’ at his alma mater, Plant High School, where he had developed his powerful swing. Alonso had hit 17 home runs during his high school career before becoming an MLB star. With nearly 150 career homers, the Polar Bear recreated the thrill of the long ball with his own version of a home run-hitting contest.

The event was about giving back to the community that had helped shape his career. The competition featured top baseball and softball players, including Alonso’s MLB friends: fellow Plant High graduate Kyle Tucker and MLB Network’s Carlos Peña. All proceeds from ticket sales benefited the Alonso Foundation, an organization specifically aimed at refurbishing Little League fields in Tampa. The first recipient of these funds was the West Tampa Little League, where Alonso had played as a kid.

Alonso’s goal was to ensure that the next generation of players in his community had the same opportunities he did. thanks to the resources and training he received in Tampa. His efforts through the foundation will provide annual grants to improve Little League facilities across the city, starting with the place where his own journey began. It was a full-circle moment for the MLB star.