Yankees Rumors: Pete Alonso Has 'Some Interest' If Mets Never 'Seriously Engage'

Star first baseman Pete Alonso is open to playing in a different New York City borough if he senses the New York Mets aren't all that preoccupied with retaining him, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Heyman reported Wednesday that Alonso "is also said to have some interest in going to the Yankees if the Mets never seriously engage with him."

The Yanks agreed to a deal with starting pitcher Max Fried worth a reported $218 million, but they should still have a lot of cash to burn considering they were prepared to spend $760 million on Juan Soto.

Any time a free agent of Soto's magnitude finally signs, it causes a domino effect. Fried's contract with the Bronx Bombers is a perfect example. However, some free agents are left to twist in the wind, and their continued presence on the open market only lowers the leverage they have at the negotiating table.

It sounds as though the conclusion to the Soto sweepstakes brought little clarity for Alonso. MLB Network Radio' Jim Duquette said Wednesday on Baseball Night in New York that his market "is still being established."

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns indicated re-signing the four-time All-Star is the team's preference.

"We'd love to bring Pete back," he said, per ESPN's Jorge Castillo. "Pete's been a great Met. He had some enormous hits for us, and we'll see where that goes."

The Mets could be playing hardball with Alonso given he doesn't seem to have any serious suitors at the moment. Heyman's report comes off as his representatives trying to turn the tables on Stearns a bit more because his departure wouldn't be received well by the fanbase.

Having said that, the Yankees do need a first baseman after declining Anthony Rizzo's 2025 option, so Alonso would address a need in their lineup. They also might like to get one over on their crosstown rivals after the Mets won the Soto bidding.