Pete Alonso has joined Baltimore Orioles (Image via Getty) Pete Alonso’s free-agency saga reached a jaw-dropping conclusion as the New York Mets’ all-time home run leader is set to trade Queens for Camden Yards. The 31-year-old slugger has agreed to a monumental five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, a franchise-altering move that instantly reshapes the American League landscape. The deal, which carries a $31 million AAV, includes a limited no-trade clause, and features no opt-outs or deferrals, stands as the largest free-agent commitment in Orioles history.The blockbuster signing not only secures one of baseball’s premier power threats but also sends shockwaves through MLB. Alonso had long been viewed as the face of the Mets’ homegrown core, and his unexpected departure, especially after New York never submitted a formal offer once competing teams escalated their bids, leaves fans stunned and searching for answers. For Baltimore, however, the signing represents a decisive push toward reestablishing postseason credibility after a disappointing last-place finish.
Pete Alonso’s Baltimore Orioles Contract Breakdown
Pete Alonso’s five-year pact with Baltimore is as straightforward as it is powerful: no opt-outs, no deferrals, and a limited no-trade clause that gives the Orioles full cost certainty through 2030. The agreement carries a $31 million average annual value, placing him firmly among the highest-paid first basemen in the sport. His path to this deal was years in the making. After turning down a long-term Mets extension earlier in his career and walking away from a one-year, $24 million opt-out option following the 2025 season, Alonso chose to test the open market, a gamble that ultimately paid off with one of the offseason’s biggest paydays.
What is Pete Alonso’s Jersey Number in Baltimore Orioles?
Throughout the bulk of his Mets career, including the 2025 season, Alonso proudly wore number 20, a jersey that became synonymous with his “Polar Bear” identity in Queens. As he transitions to Baltimore, no conflicting reports have surfaced regarding a potential change. Number 20 remains unclaimed in recent Orioles roster records, signaling a clear path for Alonso to continue wearing the number he made iconic.
Pete Alonso’s New York Mets Legacy: From Rookie Phenomenon to Franchise Titan
Few players have exploded onto the New York baseball scene the way Pete Alonso did in 2019. The hulking first baseman smashed a rookie-record 53 home runs, earned NL Rookie of the Year honors, and instantly became one of the sport’s most visible sluggers. Over seven seasons, he piled up 264 homers, the most in Mets history, while becoming the emotional centerpiece of the franchise and a multiyear All-Star staple.Alonso consistently delivered marquee moments: five All-Star selections (including four straight entering 2026), two Home Run Derby crowns, a Silver Slugger Award, and a career-best 131 RBIs in 2022. His raw power and crowd-drawing charisma kept Citi Field rocking even in uneven seasons. Yet the seeds of separation were planted early. After declining a seven-year, $158 million extension in 2023, Alonso instead took a shorter two-year, $54 million pact that allowed him to opt out, a bet that ultimately earned him over $205 million across the same span the earlier offer would have covered.
Rebound in 2025 Reinforces Pete Alonso’s Superstar Value
Alonso entered 2025 under scrutiny after uneven offensive stretches, but he delivered one of the most complete seasons of his career. The first baseman posted a resurgent .272/.347/.524 slash line, blasted 38 home runs (eighth in MLB), drove in 126 runs (second), and led the National League with 41 doubles. His .871 OPS marked his best output since his iconic rookie season.Advanced metrics backed the rebound. Alonso ranked in the 97th percentile in exit velocity (93.5 mph), trimmed his strikeout rate, and recorded a robust 144 OPS+. He also played all 162 games, providing durability alongside elite production. His postseason résumé, highlighted by a three-run walk-off homer in the 2024 Wild Card Round and a career 1.003 OPS across 16 playoff contests, further cemented his status as one of MLB’s premier big-moment hitters.
Pete Alonso’s Key Season Performances
YearAVGHRRBIOPSNotes 2019 .260 53 120 .960 Rookie of Year, HR record 2022 .246 40 131 .839 Career-high RBIs 2023 .217 46 118 .795 Career-low AVG 2024 .240 34 88 .776 Postseason hero 2025 .272 38 126 .871 Silver Slugger, opt-out
How Pete Alonso Fits Baltimore Orioles’ Vision for a New Era
Pete Alonso of the New York Mets (Image via Getty)
Baltimore Orioles desperately needed a right-handed power presence after a season where no player on the roster hit more than 19 home runs. Pete Alonso immediately becomes the lineup’s centerpiece, providing forceful middle-order production that doesn’t fade in pitcher-friendly parks, a crucial attribute given Camden Yards’ deep left-field dimensions for righties.He will take over first base from Ryan Mountcastle, whose inconsistency and injuries left the Orioles searching for a cornerstone-level upgrade. With young stars Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday flanking him in the lineup, Alonso brings veteran presence, leadership, and elite slugging potential. For a club intent on ending its downward slide and reigniting postseason ambitions, this signing signals a decisive strategic shift toward blending emerging talent with proven star power.
What Alonso’s Exit Really Feels Like for the Mets and Their Fans
The emotional fallout in New York was immediate. Broadcasters, analysts, and fans expressed disbelief as news of Alonso’s exit spread. Ron Darling described himself as “flabbergasted,” while Keith Hernandez reflected on how Alonso’s production and personality shaped the organization’s identity over the past seven seasons.Behind the scenes, the Mets’ front office appears to have calculated that long-term commitments were untenable after the significant financial obligations already in place for Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor. That stance may have cost them their signature power hitter. Now, New York must evaluate replacement options ranging from veteran catching bat Willson Contreras, who could shift into a hybrid role, to a combination platoon at first base. The loss of Alonso, coming shortly after Edwin Díaz’s move to Los Angeles, only intensifies the perception of a franchise in transition.Also read: MLB trade rumors: Baltimore Orioles could land $400 million Chicago Cubs superstar after blockbuster $155 million Pete Alonso dealLeague-wide reactions ranged from genuine surprise to admiration for Alonso’s financial victory and the Orioles’ aggressive push to reinvent themselves. Baltimore moves forward with revitalized expectations; New York moves forward with bruised optimism.