The New York Yankees are emerging as a potential landing spot for the trade deadline’s most significant power hitter.
Yankees and the Pete Alonso Rumors
The New York Mets might become sellers at the trade deadline for the second consecutive season. If this happens, first baseman Pete Alonso could be among the players that president of baseball operations David Stearns considers trading. Could Alonso switch boroughs and end the 2024 season with the New York Yankees?
Jim Bowden of The Athletic has identified six teams as possible destinations for Alonso if the Mets decide to trade him. “Pete Alonso is expected to be the biggest power bat traded at the deadline,” Bowden stated. “The Astros, Mariners, Yankees, Giants, Cubs, and Twins are possible landing spots for the three-time All-Star. If the Mets trade Alonso, they will still make a concerted effort to re-sign him this offseason. They love the Polar Bear, and he loves New York.”
Despite some struggles this season, Alonso remains one of baseball’s premier power hitters. He’s currently hitting .240/.321/.476 with 14 home runs, 16 doubles, 32 RBIs, and 37 runs scored through his first 277 plate appearances.
Alonso: A Potential Game-Changer for the Yankees
The Yankees are among baseball’s elite teams this season. They hold a 2.5-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East, a position bolstered by their recent form. Manager Aaron Boone’s squad has won eight of its last 10 games, standing at 47-21 on the year.
One area the Yankees could improve before the deadline is the right side of their infield. Both first baseman Anthony Rizzo and second baseman Gleyber Torres have underperformed offensively. Bowden previously mentioned this potential upgrade and reiterated it in his June 11 report.
“The Yankees will be monitoring the right side of their infield with hopes that first baseman Anthony Rizzo (.624 OPS) and second baseman Gleyber Torres (.640 OPS) start providing more offensive production than they have over the first two-plus months of the season,” Bowden noted. “If they don’t, the Yankees will at least consider upgrading there at the deadline.”
While Alonso’s offense has been inconsistent, he would still represent a significant upgrade over Rizzo’s 2024 performance, which includes a .224/.285/.339 slash line with seven homers, seven doubles, 25 RBIs, and 29 runs scored through 267 plate appearances.
The Yankees’ Urgent Need for Aggression
Despite being one of the league’s top teams, the Yankees cannot afford to get complacent. Their 2.5-game lead over the Orioles is the smallest of any division leader. Given Baltimore’s recent 101-win season, they pose a formidable threat.
FanGraphs odds favor the Yankees to win the division (73.5%) over the Orioles (26.2%). However, the unpredictable nature of the remaining season means anything can happen.
The Yankees will receive a boost once staff ace and reigning American League Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole returns. However, the ultimate goal isn’t just making the playoffs; it’s making a deep postseason run and contending for a championship. Continuous underperformance from Torres and Rizzo could jeopardize this objective, making it sensible for general manager Brian Cashman to aggressively seek roster enhancements before the trade deadline.
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