Home/MLB

USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

Is Scott Boras’ reputation on the line this offseason? This might be a harsh question considering he was involved in ratifying the biggest contract in sports history when the Mets coughed up $765 million for Juan Soto in a 15-year deal. But if the last off-season is anything to go by, Boras faces a fight to help his clients land marquee deals. Given his failure with the “Boras Five” is Pete Alonso’s fate headed in the same direction as Jordan Montgomery?

The first baseman market this off-season has been nothing short of a whirlwind. The deals were struck left and right; Christian Walker and Josh Bell secured contracts, which narrowed down the pool of options. Bell signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals, and this move was significant. Not just for him, but also for Pete Alonso, given the Nationals were a potential landing spot for the Mets star. But now as the new year approaches, one of the biggest names in the off-season remains unsigned.

By now, everyone is questioning: Why isn’t Alonso signed with the Mets already? New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that there is a sizeable gap between what Alonso is expecting and what the Mets are offering. But that’s an understatement because the gap is monstrous. Alonso and Scott Boras, his agent, are hunting for a closer to $200 million deal, while the offer by the Mets is a meager $90 million.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

This has left the door open for the other teams to step in for the star, with the Giants being linked and the Red Sox touted as one of the favorites. But sadly, even those doors are closing.

The Boston Red Sox might be out of the race effectively, as per the news reported by Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Cotillo reported that Red Sox GM Craig Breslow addressed the rumors of a trade involving their first baseman saying, “I’m not totally sure where it comes from.”

Breslow dismissed the idea of looking to trade Triston, indicating they may not be looking to add Alonso to their ranks. “We’re not shopping Triston. We see him as a guy that can hit in the middle of the lineup for a really long time here in Boston. Obviously, plus power, plus strike zone judgment, the ability to get on base, and it’s someone that I don’t think we’ve seen the best of.”

Getting Alonso on the team would lead to some logistical headaches for the Red Sox, which leaves trading as the only option, but Breslow was quick to shut down that idea. With Casas holding down the position in Boston, Pete Alonso has no place on the team, unless, of course, the team gets him as a designated hitter. But that is also quite a stretch.

Top Comment by Anonymous

Bob Scott

Scott Boras is money hungry agent which costs his players the team that he wants to play for

Share your take

Boston will have to look to trade Masataka Yoshida. This would open up the chance for Alonso, Triston, and Rafael Devers to be in the same lineup, a mouth-watering prospect for the Red Sox. But right now it seems unlikely.

With the Boston Red Sox seemingly out of the race, Alonso’s options are narrowing even further. The real kicker is that he would have never been in this position at all had he taken the offer by the New York Mets earlier. The team had offered $158 million for six years to him. But Scott Boras wanted a bigger deal for Alonso.

Now that the Mets slapped a $90 million contract on it, it’s a far cry from the number they wanted. This mirrors the situation seen with Jordan Montgomery

MLB Trade Rumors pegged Montgomery to sign a $150 million six-year deal. However, he and Boras pushed their luck and waited until the second day of the regular season to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks in a one-year, $25 million deal with a vesting option. While the $25 million was in line with the rumors, he has $100 million less in guaranteed money than predicted. The same thing happened with Blake Snell, who was projected for a 7-year, $200 million contract. But Boras played hardball and Snell waited until the very end of Spring Training before signing with the San Francisco Giants for 2 years and $62 million.

Given how Alonso’s situation is unfolding, Scott Boras, the man known for making a blockbuster deal, might be panicking, at least that’s what FanSided’s Cody Williams thinks. Jon Heyman had specified recently that the Mets and Alonso need to sign soon. This ‘push’ by a renowned journalist, for Williams, is a red flag that Boras is not in control of the situation.

Thus, getting a respected columnist and insider such as Heyman to urge the Mets to get something done quickly feels like Boras and Alonso could, in theory, be panicking a bit in this situation…” said Williams. Apart from Alonso, the future of Alex Bregman, another of Boras’s clients, is uncertain. Bregman is also looking at a blockbuster $200 million deal, but so far is former side, the Astros haven’t budged from their six-year offer worth about $156 million.

Given last year Scott Boras overplayed his hand on several players and how things are going with Alonso and Bregman, it makes sense he would be nervous.

Is ‘Polar Bear’ off to San Francisco?

However, just as one door closes, another opens. So it seems like not all hope is lost on Pete Alonso and his signing. The fresh new name making it to his sweepstakes is San Francisco Giants. After missing out on Corbin Burnes, who surprisingly joined the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Giants are looking to Alonso. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle said, “The Giants remain in the market for a first baseman or DH, too, and Pete Alonso is on their radar.” Fresh off a stellar 2024 season with 34 home runs and 88 RBIs, Pete Alonso is a catch for the team.

Mets podcaster Ryan Finkelstein also talked about this potential move on his podcast Locked on Mets. “If you looked at the market… the best free agent that fits their needs might just be Pete Alonso. He would give the Giants the type of power they desperately need in the middle of their lineup.” Not just that, he even mentioned that the San Francisco Giants offer to Pete Alonso could be just what’s needed now strategically.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Finkelstein suggests that the Giants offering a good rate could result in the Mets countering a higher AAV to keep their star slugger. “Does that mean that Pete Alonso wants to play for the Giants? Not necessarily, but this is what Scott Boras and Pete Alonso need to get the offer they want from the New York Mets.” Well, it seems like it’s the perfect leverage for Alonso and Scott Boras.

Scott Boras has a lot on the line; he is already being pointed at for overreaching and overestimating the market. Now, it remains to be seen if he comes with another mastermind deal. What do you think will happen? Share below.

Have something to say?

Let the world know your perspective.

0
  Debate

Debate

Did Scott Boras overplay his hand with Pete Alonso, or is a big deal still possible?