(Baltimore) The Baltimore Orioles have offered slugger Pete Alonso a five-year, $155 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
This person spoke on condition of anonymity; This pact is conditional on a medical examination.
This is an important decision for the Orioles, who are looking to bounce back after finishing in last place in the American League East.
Alonso hit .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs this year with the New York Mets, posting an .871 OPS, his best since hitting 53 long balls as a rookie in 2019.
Alonso, who celebrated his 31stand birthday on Sunday, hit 264 home runs in seven seasons with the Mets. He has been selected to the All-Star Game five times, including the last four years.
Nicknamed “The Polar Bear”, Alonso became one of New York fans’ favorite players at Citi Field. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2019 after hitting .260 with 53 long balls (a record for a rookie) and 120 RBIs. He achieved a career-high 131 RBIs in 2021.
Alonso hit .217 in 2023, his worst career average, while hitting 46 homers and driving in 118 runs, then .240 with 34 four-run hits and 88 RBIs in 2024.
Alonso signed a two-year, $54 million contract with the Mets last winter but decided not to exercise the option in his final year.
Alonso met with teams at the Major League Winter Conference in Orlando, Florida.
“Pete lives in Tampa, where it’s very hot,” his agent, Scott Boras, said Tuesday. Last year’s polar vortex has kind of dissipated. The previous market, this bear market, is therefore exhausted. »
Contributed by Ronald Blum of the Associated Press
