{"id":376957,"date":"2025-11-13T23:00:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T23:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/376957\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T23:00:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T23:00:17","slug":"why-pete-alonsos-dh-proclamation-makes-him-more-intriguing-to-power-starved-red-sox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/376957\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Pete Alonso\u2019s DH proclamation makes him more intriguing to power-starved Red Sox"},"content":{"rendered":"

LAS VEGAS \u2014 The Red Sox are, quite obviously, in the market for a big bat to bolster the middle of their lineup<\/a>. A secondary concern is ensuring their infield defense gets better \u2014 and not worse \u2014 in 2026.<\/p>\n

From an offensive perspective, then, longtime Met Pete Alonso makes perfect sense as a right-handed masher who would provide much-needed pop. Defensively, though, he\u2019s a liability. Alonso ranked last (18th) among qualified first basemen in defensive runs saved (negative-9) in 2025 while committing 10 errors (tied for the MLB lead) and ranking in the second percentile in range (negative-9 outs above average) and the fifth percentile in arm strength (73.5 mph average throw). His throwing issues were a story in New York all season.<\/p>\n

For a Red Sox club intent on improving its infield defense after years of below-average performance, adding Alonso wouldn\u2019t address that concern \u2014 unless he\u2019s amenable to a large share of at-bats as the designated hitter. He started just two games for the Mets as the DH in 2025 while making 159 starts at first base. But his agent, Scott Boras, signaled that Alonso is willing to DH, at least sometimes, with his new club.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Pete, at this point in his career, is about winning. No doubt,\u201d Boras said, choosing alliteration as a messaging tool. \u201cI\u2019ve had that question a lot. There\u2019s no doubt Pete\u2019s pursuers are primed to pay the power piper.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Red Sox have options at designated hitter with Masataka Yoshida (a trade candidate) on the roster and Breslow looking for creative ways to potentially keep all four outfielders (Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela)<\/a> in the mix if he\u2019s unable to trade any of them. Adding Alonso would worsen that logjam and would likely require a trade elsewhere. Having Alonso as a DH option would also give some runway to Triston Casas, who remains a high-upside option despite his struggles to stay healthy over the past two seasons. Casas is expected to be fully recovered from his knee injury by Opening Day but Breslow has stopped short of guaranteeing him the starting spot at first base.<\/p>\n

Alonso \u2014 who has hit 195 homers for the Mets in the last five seasons \u2014 is likely more attractive to the Red Sox as someone who is willing to take DH at-bats and increase roster flexibility for Alex Cora. There are mixed signals, though, about the club\u2019s interest. At the outset of the offseason, a well-connected industry source with knowledge of Boston\u2019s thinking didn\u2019t think the Red Sox would be a major player for Alonso. This week, however, word is there are some in the club\u2019s inner circle that prefer Alonso to Kyle Schwarber, the other top offensive free agent who projects to be exclusively a DH in 2026<\/a>. Alonso doesn\u2019t have a qualifying offer (and draft pick compensation) attached to him like Schwarber does.<\/p>\n

In an attempt to pump up his client, Boras said the talk about Alonso\u2019s defensive struggles has been overblown. Advertising the soon-to-be 31-year-old as someone willing to fit a certain team\u2019s needs is obviously the smart strategy for the super-agent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you look at the number of first basemen that can play 100 games, you have to rank Pete up there in the top seven or eight,\u201d Boras said Wednesday. \u201cThere aren\u2019t many first basemen that can play first base and keep the position.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a nature about him that is power production, punishing pitchers. They are fully aware of his skill, but I think what they most pay attention to is the core element of what he can do to provide a team that consistency of 40 home runs, power production, because they are just not finding it. They are finding a lot of players in the market that are somewhat there and somewhat not.\u201d<\/p>\n

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