Red Sox Rumors: Possible Free Agent Target Endorsed By New York Loudmouth

If the Boston Red Sox want to sign New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso this offseason, it comes with the blessing of the Pope of Big Apple sports talking heads.

Former WFAN host Mike Francesa, who now runs a podcast for BetRivers Sportsbook, used his platform to discuss Alonso, who announced Sunday that he will opt out of his contract and test the free-agent waters.

“Alonso had a terrific year. And let me say this about Alonso. I don’t know if we just saw him play his last game as a Met or not. I don’t know what the future’s gonna hold for him. But I will tell you this: he’s a hell of a baseball player,” Francesa said. “He cares. He shows up every day. He’s a terrific teammate. He battled to the end.

“… This guy is a gamer,” Francesa continued. “He answered every critic … When he was terribly treated in the offseason, he responded in a huge way.

“If the Mets don’t want him, somebody’s gonna get a really good baseball player. A really, really good baseball player. And a good teammate. And I think a winning player,” Francesa concluded.

Alonso, a home-grown Mets star, spent seven seasons in Queens. This year he became the franchise’s all-time home run leader, surpassing eight-time All-Star Darryl Strawberry.

The 30-year-old Alonso hit 38 home runs this season, which was eighth-best in the majors, and drove in 126 runs, second only to Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber.

Alonso was a free agent last year and didn’t find a multi-year, nine-figure contract to his liking so he signed a two-year, $54 million deal with an opt-out clause.

Several reports during the 2025 season linked Alonso to the Red Sox, who saw first baseman Triston Casas go down in May with a season-ending knee injury.

But Boston isn’t the only team linked to Alonso.

“The Astros like Pete Alonso, even after signing Christian Walker for $60 million last winter,” the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports. “Steve Cohen wisely saved Alonso last winter for the Mets. It’ll be interesting to see if he does it again.”