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Insider Believes 'Dark Horse' NL Team Could Enter Pete Alonso Race

Insider Jon Heyman named the Cincinnati Reds as a potential "dark horse" candidate for Pete Alonso.

Logan VanDine

Oct 14, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) celebrates in the dugout after scoring in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game two of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Oct 14, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) celebrates in the dugout after scoring in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game two of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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Could another NL team enter the sweepstakes for New York Mets free agent first baseman Pete Alonso?

On Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post named the Cincinnati Reds a potential "dark horse" candidate to land Alonso. The 30-year-old slugger remains on the open market, and the start of spring training is just several weeks away.

"Could the Reds pursue Pete Alonso? It’s probably a long shot, but with Alonso’s market not developing as expected, word is Cincy may consider it," Heyman wrote. "It’s unusual for a star free agent to go from baseball’s biggest market to its smallest (tied with Milwaukee). But Cincinnati, with its smallish ballpark, might be a nice spot for Alonso to re-establish value on a deal with early opt-outs."

Heyman also reported that both the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants have checked in on Alonso, but there have been no reported movements of any deal being placed forward by those ball clubs for the Polar Bear. Pat Ragazzo of On SI first reported on the news that both Alonso and the Angels met on January 23.

Alonso seems to gaining a bit more traction this offseason with the Reds now reportedly being seen as a destination. Despite the Reds, Giants, and Angels being deemed as potential landing spots, there has been no deal in sight as of yet for the slugging first baseman as his first go-around in free agency has not unfolded as he hoped.

Alonso's down 2024 season on offense is clearly fresh in the minds of the Mets and other teams across the league bidding for his services. This past season, the 30-year-old slashed just .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs, 88 RBI, and a career-worst .788 OPS across 162 regular season games; despite Alonso's pursuit of a premium contract, his suitors have shown hesitation in giving him such a deal.

Even though the Mets have reportedly begun talking with Alonso's camp again, you can now list the Reds as a "dark horse" candidate for the Polar Bear.

Read More:

-Mets Interested in Reunion With Fan Favorite Mark Canha

-Insider Would Be 'Shocked' if Pete Alonso Doesn't Go Back to Mets

-Ex-Mets Ace Max Scherzer Signs With Blue Jays; What it Could Mean For Pete Alonso

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Logan VanDine
LOGAN VANDINE

Logan VanDine is a contributing writer for On SI's Mets. Logan is a graduate of Rider University where he majored in Sports Media and minored in Sports Studies. During his time at Rider, Logan worked for Rider's radio station, 107.7 The Bronc as a sports host, producer and broadcaster, and for the school's paper: The Rider News. He began his time with The Rider News as a section writer for sports and was a copy editor for two years followed by being one of the sports editors during his senior year. Logan also placed third in the New Jersey Press Foundation Awards for sports feature writing. Aside from his work at On SI, he is also a writer for FanSided covering the New York Giants and Mets and also covers the Giants for Total Apex Sports. Give him a follow on X: @VandineLogan

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