MLB insider believes Pete Alonso could join Yankees if they part ways with ace pitcher Gerrit Cole

The New York Yankees will play their first World Series in 15 years, but they may have a few free agents at the end of the year, including Gerrit Cole. As per MLB insider Kerry Miller, the Bronx Bombers may look to sign New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso when he becomes a free agent in the offseason if they part ways with the ace of their starting rotation.

Gerrit Cole is in his fifth year with the Yankees after joining at the start of the 2020 season on a nine-year, $324 million deal. He has made three All-Star appearances as a Yankee and won the Cy Young award in 2023. However, Cole has an option to become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season if the Yankees don't extend his contract by another year at $36 million.

In an article for the Bleacher Report, Kerry Miller pondered what may happen during the off-season if the Yankees don't offer Gerrit Cole an extension. Miller believes they could become one of the top contenders to acquire Mets slugger Pete Alonso apart from keeping Juan Soto for the long term.

Miller questioned what might happen if the Yankees decide to call Gerrit Cole’s bluff and allow him to leave. He noted that it's been widely expected that Cole will opt out of the final four years of his contract to push the Yankees into adding another $36 million season.

If Cole does opt out, the insider believes the team will have to choose between paying $180 million for five more years of a 34-year-old Cole or investing the same amount in a six-year deal for 30-year-old Pete Alonso.

The Yankees won their first American League pennant since 2009, but Gerrit Cole didn't have a dominant season. He made just 17 starts in the regular season after suffering an elbow issue during spring training. He has pitched 16.1 innings and has a 1-0 record over three starts this postseason, with a 3.31 ERA.

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"It sure would be a terrifying few years": Kerry Miller on Yankees lineup if they trade Gerrit Cole to sign Pete Alonso

The Yankees could pursue first baseman Pete Alonso if Gerrit Cole opts for free agency (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

Despite heading to the World Series, the New York Yankees have had subpar offensive production from the first base position. They only had .619 OPS from their first basemen during the regular season, which was the lowest in the entire MLB.

Therefore, Kerry Miller feels the Yankees may be tempted to release Gerrit Cole and pursue Pete Alonso in the offseason, even though Juan Soto remains their top priority.

Miller believes the Yankees' pursuit of Pete Alonso likely depends on whether they can re-sign Juan Soto. He noted that having a lineup featuring Alonso, Soto, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, with Austin Wells, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Jasson Domínguez, would make for a formidable group over the next few years.

Pete Alonso made four All-Star Game appearances over his six seasons with the New York Mets and has 226 home runs. Alonso was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2018 after hitting 53 home runs, the most by any player in their maiden MLB campaign.