Lead: The Baltimore Orioles have reached agreement on a five-year, $155 million contract with slugger Pete Alonso, a person with knowledge of the arrangement told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal remained subject to a physical. The move is a significant splash for a club determined to rebound after a disappointing 2025 campaign, and it adds a proven middle-of-the-order bat to a lineup already featuring Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. Alonso’s arrival reshapes the club’s positional outlook and raises immediate questions about first-base playing time.
Key Takeaways
- The Orioles agreed to a five-year, $155 million contract with Pete Alonso; the deal was reported to AP while still pending a physical.
- Alonso, 31, hit .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs this season and posted an .871 OPS — his highest since his 53-homer 2019 rookie year.
- Over seven seasons with the New York Mets, Alonso hit a franchise-record 264 homers and is a five-time All-Star, including the past four years.
- Alonso previously signed a $54 million, two-year deal to remain with the Mets and opted out of the second year, foregoing $24 million.
- He turned down a $158 million, seven-year offer from the Mets in 2023; combining contracts, he will earn $205.5 million over seven seasons — about a 30% increase versus that earlier offer.
- The Orioles’ rotation posted a 4.65 ERA last season, highlighting Baltimore’s continuing need for starting pitching despite adding Alonso and reliever Ryan Helsley earlier this offseason.
- Roster implications include reduced clarity for first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and limited paths for prospect Coby Mayo, with Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo providing DH/catcher flexibility.
Background
Alonso emerged as one of the premier power hitters in Major League Baseball since his 2019 debut, when he was named National League Rookie of the Year after a 53-home-run season. Over seven full seasons with the Mets he compiled a franchise record 264 home runs and earned five All-Star selections, building a reputation as a durable, middle-of-the-order run producer. After a quieter free-agent market and a two-year, $54 million deal to stay in New York, Alonso opted out of the contract’s second year and tested the current market.
The Orioles entered the offseason intent on upgrading after slipping from a 2023 AL East title to a disappointing 2025 finish. Baltimore’s youth core — including Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg — still represents a long-term foundation, but inconsistent pitching and an underwhelming supporting offense created pressure on the front office to pursue established impact players. Team executives signaled a willingness to shift from short-term commitments to higher-cost, multi-year deals to accelerate a return to contention.
Main Event
The reported agreement consolidates Alonso’s move from the Mets to Baltimore on a five-year, $155 million contract, pending a standard physical. The reported timing follows Alonso’s opt-out of a two-year deal in New York and a period of free-agent marketplace meetings that included the winter meetings in Orlando, Florida. Alonso turned 31 the same week the report surfaced, and the Orioles are banking on his recent health and durability — he played 162 games in each of the previous two seasons, primarily at first base.
On the field, Alonso posted a robust offensive season with a .272 average, 38 homers and 126 RBIs, and his .871 OPS marked a high-water point since 2019. The contract gives Baltimore a veteran power bat directly into its projected middle lineup slot, and manager Craig Albernaz gains lineup flexibility with Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo able to serve as catcher or designated hitter. Basallo could also be used at first base at times, but Alonso’s presence makes everyday reps for incumbent Ryan Mountcastle less likely unless injuries or role changes intervene.
The move follows other Orioles offseason spending: the club earlier signed closer Ryan Helsley and acquired outfielder Taylor Ward in a trade. Baltimore’s front office portrayed Alonso’s signing as evidence it can compete for marquee free agents after largely relying on short-term deals in recent years.
Analysis & Implications
Strategically, the Alonso signing signals a shift in Baltimore’s roster construction toward adding established, middle-of-the-order power rather than waiting for prospects to fully mature. Alonso’s track record of home-run production and recent seasons of heavy workload reduce the short-term risk of decline, but his signing is costly and shortens payroll flexibility for other needs, most notably starting pitching where the Orioles posted a 4.65 ERA last season.
For the lineup, Alonso should slot between Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman in several configurations, potentially increasing run production with 30–40 home-run upside in a favorable home park. That projection assumes Alonso sustains his recent contact and on-base rates; a reversion toward his lower-year averages would temper the upgrade. Defensively, Alonso has been almost exclusively a first baseman recently, which creates a choke point for incumbents and prospects at that position.
Financially, the contract is significant but not market-leading in annual value; it is front-office evidence of Baltimore’s willingness to invest in free agents that can change the club’s competitive window. For Alonso, the move consolidates his earnings growth after turning down the Mets’ 2023 offer and opting out of a shorter deal; the reported total of $205.5 million across seven seasons represents a material increase in guaranteed income compared with prior negotiations.
Comparison & Data
| Season | Avg | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 (Rookie) | .260 | 53 | 120 |
| 2022 | — | — | 131 |
| 2023 | .217 | 46 | 118 |
| 2024 | .240 | 34 | 88 |
| Most Recent Season | .272 | 38 | 126 |
The table highlights Alonso’s peak power (2019) and recent production surge, including the season referenced in the agreement in which he hit .272 with 38 homers and 126 RBIs. While batting average has fluctuated, Alonso’s home-run totals have consistently placed him among the game’s most reliable power threats. Teams weighing the contract should factor in age (31 at signing), plate discipline trends, and his availability over the past two full seasons when projecting future value.
Reactions & Quotes
The signing drew immediate public responses from political and team figures, reflecting the deal’s local and national attention. Maryland Governor Wes Moore reacted on social media, framing the acquisition as a major win for state fans and local morale.
“Christmas came early.”
Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland (social media)
Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, framed the market context around his client’s decision-making at recent meetings and negotiations, suggesting earlier market conditions had shifted.
“Pete lives in Tampa, it’s rather warm there… So the prior market — that prior bear market is exhausted.”
Scott Boras, Agent
Club officials declined extended comment while the physical and final paperwork were completed, but the front office emphasized the move as part of a broader push to return to contention after a down year.
Unconfirmed
- The reported deal remained contingent on a physical at the time of reporting and had not been formally announced by the Orioles.
- The exact role mix (daily first base vs. DH/occasional catch) for Alonso and the allocation of at-bats among Mountcastle, Basallo and Rutschman had not been finalized.
- Reports that Edwin Díaz’s move to the Dodgers was not finalized at the time were noted; the status of that and any subsequent Mets payroll moves remained subject to confirmation.
Bottom Line
The Orioles’ reported five-year, $155 million deal for Pete Alonso is a clear statement of intent: Baltimore is willing to pay for established power to accelerate a return to contention. Alonso’s recent season-long durability and strong 2025 numbers make him a low-to-moderate risk acquisition in terms of on-field production, but the commitment tightens the club’s payroll flexibility and heightens the need for additional pitching upgrades.
For Alonso, the move represents both financial upside — a reported $205.5 million across seven seasons when combined with previous contracts — and a fresh opportunity on a team pushing to maximize its competitive window around young stars. Close observers should watch the pending physical, the club’s next roster moves for starting pitching, and how Baltimore manages first-base reps to assess the full impact of the signing.