The New York Mets are still not close to reaching an agreement with Pete Alonso as they remain unwilling to offer the player's asking price. The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly emerged as a potential landing spot for the first baseman now, as they are keen to add a superstar free agent after failing to do so over the past two off-seasons.
MLB analyst Robert Murray feels the Blue Jays are a strong contender to sign Pete Alonso this winter. Murray believes Alonso will be a good addition to the Blue Jays as they desperately need another power hitter in their lineup. However, he strongly doubts whether signing the All-Star first baseman will instantly turn the team into a playoff contender.
Murray offered his perspective about the Blue Jays potentially adding Pete Alonso to their roster during "The Baseball Insiders" on Friday.
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"You see Toronto get involved, and they absolutely need another power hitter in their lineup," he said. "If you put Alonso and Vlad Jr. in that lineup together, and maybe you end up adding some other players alongside those guys, then you could have the makings of maybe a playoff contender. The Jays are not just Pete Alonso away from going back to the postseason. They need more help than that.
"There's not a clear other firm contender for Alonso at this point, which could really open up the door for a lot of these different teams to go out and do it," he added. "With Alonso still on the board, not rolling the Mets out, the Blue Jays do have a chance here. We'll see, but I don't get the indication that anything is close." [9:15 - 11:19]
The Blue Jays missed the playoffs last season after finishing in last place of the American League East with a 74-88 record.
Robert Murray thinks the Mets are still "firmly involved" in Pete Alonso's free agency
Robert Murray believes the New York Mets are still the favorites to bring Pete Alonso back to the team. He feels the Mets will put out a larger deal in due course:
"I think the number has some wiggle room as far as what the Mets could be willing to offer Alonso," Murray said. "We've just not yet gotten to that point. I've seen a lot of comments suggesting that the Mets are pivoting away, that Alonso appears destined to be headed elsewhere.
"That certainly is possible, but until Alonso ends up signing elsewhere, I'm still going to believe the Mets are firmly involved in this thing," he added.
Alonso was drafted by the Mets and is a huge fan-favorite, having spent his entire six-year major league career with the team.
