MLB insider continues to connect SF Giants to power-hitting slugger as he lingers in free agency

Power-hitting slugger Pete Alonso remains in free agency as the calendar turns to February. The New York Mets remain arguably the best fit, but Jon Heyman of the New York Post lists the SF Giants as among the teams that make sense for Alonso.

MLB insider continues to connect SF Giants to power-hitting slugger as he lingers in free agency

Heyman adds that the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels, and Cincinnati Reds as the most likely landing spots along with the Mets and Giants. Despite the number of perceived fits, Alonso's market has not developed as he had hoped.

There are a few reasons for this. There has been a decline in his production from the .271/.352/.518 line (141 wRC+) with 40 home runs and 131 RBI in 685 plate appearances that he posted in 2022. That said, he still continues to put up solid numbers with the ability to hit at leats 30 home runs. In fact, the veteran bat has tallied at least 34 home runs in every full season since he debuted in 2019.

Alonso is still an excellent hitter but teams are less enthused about handing out a lucrative contract given the numbers he has put up in the past couple of seasons. Plus, the six-year veteran is a below-average first baseman and will likely need to shift to DH sooner rather than later. Teams are cautious about investing in first basemen, but they are pretty reluctant in doing so with a full-time DH with a few exceptions.

The four-time All-Star also rejected a qualifying offer earlier in the offseason, so draft pick and signing capital are attached to his name.

Lastly, there seems to be a pretty stark difference of opinion in how his agent sees his value compared to the rest of baseball. There is a good chance that a deal of five or more years is just not in the cards if that is what his agent is pursuing. A three-year deal does make some sense.

That said, there are several reasons why Alonso would be an imperfect fit for the Giants. Undeniably, he would upgrade the Giants' lineup in 2025, so there is a case to be made for signing him as well. As he continues to linger in free agency, there is a chance for a dark horse team like the Giants to get involved.