Schwarber’s five-year, $150 million deal with the Phillies took the biggest free-agent power bat off the board, leaving Alonso atop that market as teams continue to seek upgrades for 2026 and beyond.
The Mets, Red Sox and Orioles remain the favorites for Alonso, who hit 38 home runs with 126 RBIs and an .871 OPS in 162 games this past season. Since 2022, Alonso has been an All-Star in each season, averaging 39 home runs and 115 RBIs with an .838 OPS in 159 games.
Alonso was scheduled to make the drive to Orlando from his Tampa home Tuesday for meetings with the Red Sox and Orioles, though it has not been confirmed that those meetings took place.
The Red Sox and Orioles are both looking to add an impact power bat to their respective lineups, while the Mets have enjoyed the benefits of Alonso’s power for the past seven years.
According to sources, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns — who signed Alonso to a two-year, $54 million deal last February — may be hesitant to give the slugger a deal longer than three years. Alonso opted out of the final year and $24 million of that deal after the season, becoming a free agent for the second straight year – this time without a qualifying offer attached to him.
Given that Schwarber — who is nearly two years older than Alonso and is strictly a designated hitter — landed a five-year pact, it is believed that Alonso will be seeking a five-year deal, as well, likely in the same range of roughly $30 million per year.
If the Mets balk at the idea of a contract longer than three years, it could open the door for the Red Sox or Orioles to swipe Alonso away from the team that drafted him in the second round in 2016. After trading outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers and losing free-agent closer Edwin Díaz to the Dodgers on Tuesday, the wild card here could be Mets owner Steve Cohen.
Losing Alonso would mean watching a third fan-favorite depart Queens, which would be a gut-punch to the Mets fan base. Following his team’s disappointing 2025 season, could Cohen instruct Stearns to get a deal done with Alonso at any cost?
“The Mets have a lot of pressure on them right now,” a National League executive said. “They still need to do a lot this winter, but getting Alonso back would check a big box on their to-do list.”
In addition to Alonso — or an impact bat to replace him should he sign elsewhere — the Mets are looking for a starting pitcher, another bullpen piece (or two), and an outfielder to replace Nimmo.
Díaz is done; who’s next?
Díaz’s three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers set the market for relief pitchers, potentially opening the floodgates for the remaining available bullpen arms.
Robert Suarez, who led the NL with 40 saves for the Padres last season, could be the next big relief arm to come off the board.
According to sources, Suarez’s market began gaining traction following the Díaz signing, with the Mets, Blue Jays and Braves believed to be the most aggressive suitors.
Suarez will turn 35 in March, but he has been one of the best closers in the game over the past two seasons, posting 76 saves and a 2.87 ERA in 135 appearances since the start of 2024.
Given that no reliever has landed a deal for more than three years this winter, it’s reasonable to think that Suarez is looking at the same term. He is unlikely to match Díaz’s average annual value of $23 million, but Suarez could be looking at something in the range of the $17 million per year that Devin Williams got from the Mets over three years.
The other reliever drawing significant attention is Pete Fairbanks, who became a free agent when the Rays declined his $11 million club option for 2026. Fairbanks is being pursued by several clubs including the Blue Jays, Mets, Marlins and White Sox.
While Schwarber, Alonso and the crop of free-agent relievers have gotten most of the attention this week in Orlando, the starting pitching market has been relatively quiet, with little-to-no news coming out on that front.
Dylan Cease‘s seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays came far earlier than anybody expected, prompting some to predict a domino effect on the starting pitching market. That, however, has not materialized in the two weeks since Cease agreed to his deal.
“There are so many starters that may be traded, teams probably don’t feel the need to go pay a lot for one of the free agents,” one AL executive said. “If those guys get moved — or it becomes clear the price is too high — then you’ll see the free agents start to move.”
