After showing interest in a number of high-profile names this offseason, Mike Elias and the Orioles have finally landed a star free agent to try to improve their fortunes for 2026 and energize a disgruntled fan base.
Baltimore has agreed to a five-year, $155 million contract with five-time All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso, according to multiple outlets. The 31-year-old clubbed 38 home runs and 41 doubles with an .871 on-base plus slugging percentage in his final season with the New York Mets in 2025 and has hit at least 34 homers in five straight campaigns. That speaks to the kind of middle-of-the-order bat the Orioles are adding to a young lineup that underachieved in 2025.
The news comes a day after the Orioles reportedly lost out to Philadelphia in trying to sign three-time All-Star slugger Kyle Schwarber, but it speaks to the organization’s legitimate efforts to improve a club that finished in last place in the AL East this past season. After signing Alonso and acquiring outfielder Taylor Ward in the Grayson Rodriguez trade last month to improve the offense, Elias will presumably now shift more attention to upgrading a starting rotation headlined by right-hander Kyle Bradish and lefty Trevor Rogers.
Alonso was voted the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year when he hit a whopping 53 home runs for the Mets and has been one of baseball’s elite first basemen ever since. Over seven seasons, he’s batted .253 with 264 home runs, 712 RBIs, and an .857 OPS. Alonso has also never missed more than 10 games in any of his major league campaigns.
That production and durability will now lead to questions about what the future holds for 24-year-old first baseman Coby Mayo, who had a strong September to cap an uneven 2025 campaign. Elias may now elect to use Mayo as a significant trade piece in efforts to acquire pitching. Alonso’s arrival also means first baseman and catcher Samuel Basallo is more likely to see the bulk of his playing time at designated hitter with Adley Rutschman remaining the starting catcher.
