MLB free agency 2025: The best options for Pete Alonso

Toro, González and Lowe, who signed in August, took care of the rest of the season. Toro was placed on the transfer list in August. Lowe suffered the same fate on Tuesday.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Craig Breslow has made it clear that he wants to acquire a power hitter for the middle of the batting order, preferably right-handed. The trade of Devers, coupled with the free agency of Alex Bregman, has left the Red Sox with few proven power hitters in their lineup. Bregman’s return would solve that problem. The same would happen with the signing of Alonso, who could alternate between first base and designated hitter with Casas if Boston decided to retain him.

Do the Red Sox have interest in both free agents? Devers’ move freed up $29.1 million of payroll subject to the competitive balance tax for each of the next eight years. The Red Sox released approximately $98 million of their relatively modest $201 million payroll subject to the competitive balance tax after the season. Their 2026 payroll is expected to include salary increases in excess of $50 million, but Boston is a big-market club with enough money to cover its needs.

Designated hitter performance in 2025: .240/.313/.407, 21 HR, 96 wRC+, -0.2 fWAR

The Reds finished 14th in the Major Leagues in runs scored, but their collective wRC+ of 92, a metric that adjusts for ballpark characteristics and league context, ranked 24th. The Reds know they have room for improvement by playing half of their games at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, so they’re looking to bolster their offense.

First base and designated hitter are not obvious needs. Spencer Steer hit 21 home runs in 146 games. Sal Stewart, who turns 22 next month, will be a bigger factor in the decision after posting a 121 OPS+ in his first 18 major league games. But Alonso is on another level. Like Schwarber, a native of the Cincinnati area.

Now, let’s talk about money. Signing any of these hitters would require the largest free agent contract in franchise history; the current record is held by the two four-year, $64 million contracts signed with Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas in 2020. The Reds are estimated to have a payroll of $120 million (CBT) for next season, after finishing with a payroll of $143 million in 2025, the highest since 2021. This projection includes expected salary increases. If investing in a top-tier free agent proves too expensive, or if everyone simply decides to play elsewhere, the Reds could find a cheaper alternative on the transfer market, negotiating with players from their starting rotation.

First baseman production in 2025: .262/.351/.479, 32 HR, 128 wRC+, 3.9 fWAR

Starting first baseman: Bryce Harper (130 starts)

Designated hitter performance in 2025: .238/.362/.566, 57 HR, 152 wRC+, 5.1 fWAR

Starting designated hitter: Kyle Schwarber (154 starts)

With Bryce Harper at first base, Alonso would probably only make sense for the Phillies if they don’t re-sign Schwarber, the major league’s best designated hitter after Shohei Ohtani. But Phillies owner John Middleton isn’t afraid to invest, and the team could make both Alonso and Schwarber work by moving Harper back to the outfield. Offensively, Alonso’s right-handed bat makes sense, as the Phillies are expected to part with Nick Castellanos, catcher JT Realmuto is a free agent and Alec Bohm is a trade candidate.

First baseman production in 2025: .246/.323/.411, 18 HR, 103 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR

Starting starters: Spencer Horwitz (93 starts), Enmanuel Valdez (22)

Designated hitter production in 2025: .238/.328/.390, 19 HR, 98 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR

Starting designated hitters: Andrew McCutchen (120 starts), Bryan Reynolds (34)

Although unlikely, the Pirates want to invest in bolstering their offense to complement a solid pitching staff led by Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes. Like the A’s last winter in their quest to upgrade their starting rotation, this could mean overpaying for an impact hitter. The price of doing business.

First baseman production in 2025: .243/.310/.369, 14 HR, 92 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR

Starting starters: Coby Mayo (67 starts), Ryan Mountcastle (50), Ryan O’Hearn (39)

Designated hitter production in 2025: .221/.296/.380, 22 HR, 90 wRC+, -0.5 fWAR

Starting designated hitters: Mountcastle (33 starts), O’Hearn (31), Adley Rutschman (18), Jordan Westburg (16), Tyler O’Neill (13)

In the general manager meetings, Orioles general manager Mike Elias expressed his desire to add a power hitter, preferably an outfielder, during the offseason. The acquisition of Taylor Ward in exchange for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez on Tuesday accomplished that goal. However, they could always add more offensive power, and Alonso would contribute a lot to them.

Designated hitter production in 2025: .282/.354/.484, 34 HR, 133 wRC+, 3.6 fWAR

Starting designated hitters: George Springer (80 starts), Anthony Santander (30), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (24)

This combination isn’t perfect, but the Blue Jays could lose right-handed hitter Bo Bichette in free agency this winter and Alonso could be his replacement. The Blue Jays showed interest in Alonso last winter, but at the time Guerrero’s future was very uncertain. We’re not even going to consider first base as a possibility for Alonso in Toronto, because that’s Guerrero’s position for a long time. Springer had a resurgent season primarily as Toronto’s designated hitter, so he would have to return to the outfield to make room for Alonso.