Power-hitting SF Giants target reportedly seeking unpopular contract structure

While the first-base market dried up pretty quickly at the end of December, one potential option remains for the SF Giants in Pete Alonso but he could be seeking an unpopular contract structure. Jeff Passan of ESPN speculates that Alonso would "almost certainly get an opt-out-laden short-term deal"

Power-hitting SF Giants target reportedly seeking unpopular contract structure

Alonso rejected a seven-year, $158 million deal in 2023. That type of deal may no longer be on the table as his market has not developed as he had hoped. His agent, Scott Boras, is seeking a pivot at this point to try and broaden his market.

Teams are generally reluctant to hand out long-term commitments to players in the first place. That is especially true for first basemen. Reuniting with the New York Mets has always felt like the most likely outcome for Alonso but the Giants have been connected to him as well.

That type of bat would provide a boost to San Francisco's lineup. That said, the type of contract structure Passan speculates that Alonso is looking for would not suggest a long-term stay. More than likely, the six-year veteran is looking for an opt-out after one season with the hopes of finding a better deal next year.

The Giants have not seemed too keen on dusting off the opt-out lever that had been so popular in recent seasons. Matt Chapman and Willy Adames have signed long-term deals with the Giants within the past several months, and neither contract includes an opt-out clause. Both contracts also include no-trade clauses, so the Giants are committed to both players being in San Francisco for a long time.

The opt-out lever is not one that the front office should shun entirely. However, in the case of Alonso, it just does not make a lot of sense for a few reasons. First and foremost, the Giants hope that Bryce Eldridge can be their first baseman of the future as soon as next season. Those are lofty expectations to put on a 20-year-old prospect, but he is considered one of the best prospects in baseball.

The Giants really just need a stopgap at first base. Sure, a short-term deal for Alonso could be that stopgap. However, it would also come at a cost. The right-handed bat rejected a qualifying offer earlier in the offseason.

If the Giants signed him, they would lose their third-and-sixth-round selections as well as $1 million in international bonus pool money. They have already lost their second-and-fifth-round picks and $1 million in international bonus pool money following the signing of Adames.

This is on top of losing their second-and-third-round selections and $1 million in international bonus pool money from last offseason. That is a lot of picks and spending capital to lose in such a short period of time.

Generally speaking, signing a player who rejected a qualifying offer to a short-term deal is not a good practice. It was true for Blake Snell and the same would apply to Pete Alonso. I should add that Matt Chapman's initial deal, in theory, was a short-team contract but it had a little more stability.

At the end of the day, Giants fans want players that they know will be in San Francisco for a long time. Alonso would not be a particularly strong for the club in the first place, but a short-term deal with an opt-out would be unpopular and does not make much sense.