Back in the spring, there was a theory circulating around New York baseball that the two big-name sluggers in the city—the Yankees’ Juan Soto and the Mets’ Pete Alonso—might eventually swap teams. The idea was that the Mets would aggressively pursue Soto, and when they lost out on him, the Yankees would then target Alonso, adding another middle-of-the-order hitter capable of handling the pressures of New York.
In fact, in mid-April, New York Post insider Jon Heyman even wrote a piece titled, “Juan Soto and Pete Alonso could trade places in free agency mega-swap scenario,” which summarized the speculation.
However, seven months later, this scenario now seems less likely. While the Mets might still land Soto—thanks to the deep pockets of owner Steve Cohen—the second part of the theory, the Yankees pursuing Alonso, appears less certain. In fact, if the Yankees miss out on Soto, they might be better off exploring other options entirely.
Alonso, one of MLB’s premier power hitters, is undeniably talented. With a career average of 43 home runs per 162 games, he is a four-time All-Star and hit 34 homers in 2024. But despite his offensive prowess, Alonso comes with significant drawbacks.
After a relatively underwhelming season in which he posted an OPS of .788, some teams—including the Yankees—might hesitate to commit heavily to him. His defensive skills are subpar, as he doesn’t play a premium position and struggles defensively. Additionally, his strikeout rate is high, he lacks speed, and he’ll turn 30 in December.
Given these concerns, some analysts, like those at SNY, argue that the Yankees should reconsider Alonso as a backup option if they miss out on Soto.
SNY analyst Phillip Martinez expressed concerns about Alonso’s fit with the Yankees, despite his strong offensive numbers. “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,” Martinez wrote. “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.”
Another issue is the Yankees’ long-term plans for Aaron Judge. The team envisions moving Judge from the outfield to first base to extend his career, and committing to a six-year, $174 million deal for Alonso would likely delay that plan. As Martinez noted, “With Judge potentially moving to first base, a 30-year-old Alonso would just be in the way of that plan.”
