According to New York baseball insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees and Mets could potentially swap Pete Alonso and Juan Soto. This would not be a traditional trade, but rather a de facto swap of star sluggers with Soto joining the Mets and Alonso going to the Yankees. Mets and the Yankees The Mets would heist Alonso out of Queens in response.
The Mets are happy with Alonso and intend to re-sign him, but they might explore signing Soto first, as he is a better all-around hitter and four years younger. If the Mets sign Soto, the Yankees would need to find a replacement.
Since signing both Alonso and Soto would be too expensive for the Mets, Alonso would be a good alternative for the Yankees despite not being as disciplined a hitter as Soto, he is more of a pure slugger.
As According to Heyman in the New York Post: “Could Pete Alonso of the Mets and Juan Soto of the Yankees trade places this winter? While it's more likely for one or both star free agents to stay with their current teams, the possibility of them swapping teams shouldn't be dismissed.
The Yankees would be open to the idea of having Alonso as their second choice.
Alonso is a 29-year-old three-time All-Star in the prime of his career, making him a solid second choice for the Yankees or any team seeking a top-notch slugger next winter. He has been very durable, missing only 24 games in five MLB seasons before this one, and has been highly productive, leading the league with 53 home runs as a rookie in 2019 and hitting 40-plus homers in each of the last two seasons. Despite batting only .217, he drove in a league-high 131 runs in 2022 and 118 last season. He has started the season with six homers in his first 20 games, batting .241.
Alonso's projected contracts vary. The Athletic's Tim Britton estimates he could receive a seven-year extension worth $190 million from the Mets.
At Spotrac, they predicted a nine-year, $270 million extension with the Mets heading into the 2024 season, but that did not happen. Consequently, their pick is an eight-year, $225 million deal.
Soto's projected deal is expected to be more expensive. He has been performing well, leading the league in walks with 18 and on-base percentage with .469. He is batting .354 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in 21 games. Soto led the league in walks for three straight seasons and hit a career-high 35 home runs last year. He also had a league-best 132 walks..
Soto is expected to earn an annual salary of $34 million, and Spotrac projects a 12-year, $408 million contract for him next winter. Heyman speculates that the Yankees will offer Soto a record-breaking contract that will keep him in pinstripes, surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s $700M deal if you count based on deferrals/net present value. Soto is not only an on-base machine, but he’s already bonding with Yankee fans.
because of an eager attitude
,” Heyman wrote. Yankees player Juan Soto will likely remain in the Bronx, but if the Mets take him, be prepared for Pete Alonso's response. (18) and on-base percentage (.469). He is batting .354 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in 21 games.
Soto hit 160 home runs in seven seasons entering this one, and knocked a career-high 35 last year. He also had a league-best 132 walks, and has led the league in walks for three straight seasons.
Soto is expected to generate an annual salary of $34 million, and Spotrac projects him to warrant a (take a deep breath) 12-year, $408 million contract next winter.
Heyman, though, speculates that the Yankees will offer even more, a record-breaking contract that will keep him in pinstripes.
“The Yankees, in fact, seem primed to make a record offer if you count Shohei Ohtani’s $700M deal as $462M based on deferrals/net present value. Soto is not only an on-base machine (an AL best .478) that’s brought the Yankees back to Bronx Bomber status, he’s already bonding with Yankee fans, thanks to an enthusiastic demeanor,” Heyman wrote.
