Red Sox Free Agency Rumors: Mets’ Pete Alonso Draws Hall-of-Fame Comp
Alonso is a two-time Home Run Derby Champion
The Boston Red Sox could land themselves a future Hall of Famer if they can sign New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.
That’s what SNY analyst and former Mets star Keith Hernandez told the New York Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman on the latest installment of the The Post’s “The Show” podcast.
“You’re not gonna replace his bat, his power bat,” Hernandez said of the Mets needing to re-sign Alonso. “To me, he is the second coming of Harmon Killebrew. I had said that in his rookie season. Plus the fact that he’s a right-handed bat, and our lineup is better — we’ve got left-hand hitters in the middle there. Really, our lineup was top-heavy.”
Hammerin’ Harmon
For those unfamiliar with his body of work, Killebrew was one of MLB’s greatest sluggers. He retired after the 1975 season and his 573 home runs still ranks 12th all-time.
All but one of his 22 seasons were spent with the Minnesota Twins. The 13-time All-Star hit at least 40 home runs in eight seasons. Killebrew had six top-five finishes in MVP voting, taking home the award in 1969 when he led the majors with 49 home runs and 140 RBIs.
Killebrew entered the Hall of Fame in 1984, making it on his fourth time on the ballot.
Cooperstown Calling?
Alonso isn’t quite there yet. But his trajectory could still trend towards Cooperstown.
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.
But Hernandez thinks that Alonso’s career must continue with the Mets.
“To me, if he drives in 125 runs, a right-handed bat, I think they’ve got to sign him,” Hernandez said, according to the New York Post.
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 first baseman has 264 career home runs, topping 40 in a season three times.
A five-time All-Star, Alonso was a free agent last winter and didn’t find a multi-year, nine-figure contract to his liking so he returned to the Mets, who gave him a two-year, $54 million deal with an opt-out clause.
The two-time Home Run Derby champion said after the regular season ended he will opt out of his contract and hit the open market.
