The Chicago Cubs fell short of expectations following a busy offseason in 2024 and are looking to be active in free agency this winter as they aim for the National League Central title.
In a recent discussion about potential free agent targets, FanSided’s Zach Pressnell suggested the Cubs should pursue Pete Alonso from the New York Mets instead of going after Juan Soto.
“Throughout the season, it became clear that the Cubs needed to add a power hitter to their lineup, as well as a consistent first baseman. This led to strong connections with Mets slugger Pete Alonso during the trade deadline,” Pressnell noted. “However, the Mets were performing well enough to avoid selling, ultimately deciding to keep Alonso for the rest of the year.”
Alonso is expected to be one of the most expensive players on the market, but the Cubs have the financial capacity to make a move. According to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman, Alonso rejected a seven-year, $158 million extension last summer. Spotrac estimates he could land a six-year, $174 million contract in free agency.
“Teams like the Mets and Mariners will be very aggressive in pursuing Alonso. However, with the Mets also targeting Juan Soto, it’s unlikely they’ll have the budget to acquire both Alonso and Soto,” Pressnell noted.
While Alonso is a top player, it’s hard to envision any team, including the Mets, choosing him over Soto. The Cubs can match the financial offers from Soto’s primary competitors, but there’s no indication that he would be interested in joining Chicago. The leading contenders for Soto appear to be the Mets and Yankees.
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