Breaking News: The Red Sox's hopes of landing slugger Pete Alonso have been dashed! Instead of joining the team, he's signed a lucrative $155 million deal with a fierce rival in the American League East: the Orioles. This unexpected turn of events has sent shockwaves through the baseball world.
Updated: December 10, 2025, 1:12 p.m.
Published: December 10, 2025, 1:04 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
For months, fans envisioned Alonso, a perfect fit for the Red Sox lineup. But, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Orioles swooped in and secured the power hitter. This move came just a day after Kyle Schwarber signed a $150 million contract with the Phillies, leaving Red Sox fans wondering what could have been. Alonso's deal with the Orioles is structured without opt-outs or deferrals.
The Red Sox were in the running, having made a formal offer to Alonso. He even traveled from his Tampa home to meet with interested teams at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. At the start of the offseason, at least one key Red Sox decision-maker favored Alonso over Schwarber. The team had a Zoom meeting with Alonso and his representatives before the Winter Meetings and planned a face-to-face meeting in Florida.
But here's where it gets controversial... Baltimore emerged as an aggressive competitor, matching Philadelphia's offer for Schwarber and ultimately securing Alonso's services. This aggressive strategy by the Orioles also included signing closer Ryan Helsley and trading for outfielder Taylor Ward.
Alonso, who opted out of his contract after re-signing with the Mets, hit 38 home runs in 2025, bringing his career total to 264 in 1,008 games since his debut in 2019. The soon-to-be 32-year-old player would have been a great fit for the Red Sox, potentially playing first base and designated hitter. Now, Boston must look elsewhere to find a big bat. Potential trade targets include Ketel Marte of Arizona and Isaac Paredes of Houston, while Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, and Eugenio Suarez remain unsigned in the free-agent market.
"Home runs are a foolproof way to put runs on the board," said chief baseball officer Craig Breslow earlier this week. "Typically, that type of profile comes with a trade-off, most often contact ability, which is another area that we feel like we need to improve the identity of the offense. At the end of the day, we’re trying to score as many runs as possible. There are a few different paths to doing that. I think that the true middle-of-the-order bat that can hit the ball out of the park probably has outsized impact on the rest of the lineup because of the way that you have to attack someone and the on-base implications it can have."
And this is the part most people miss... The Red Sox are now left to re-evaluate their strategy. What does this mean for the team's chances next season?
What do you think of the Red Sox's missed opportunity? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Chris Cotillo is a Red Sox reporter for MassLive who has been covering the team since 2018. Along with Sean McAdam, he hosts The Fenway Rundown podcast. Previously, Chris covered Major League Baseball for SB...
