MLB insider reveals laughable offer Red Sox extended Pete Alonso before decision to sign with Orioles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox took a massive hit this offseason when they lost out on Pete Alonso to their division rival, the Baltimore Orioles. Now, it’s been revealed why they lost, and it’s pretty embarrassing.
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According to 98.5 The Sports Hubs’ James Stewart, the Sox’ offer to Alonso was for three years, $85 million, with a fourth-year option for $35 million.
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For reference, Alonso got a five-year, $155 million deal from the O’s. So, doing the math, with the O’s Alonso is making $31 million over five years, and with the Sox he would be making $28 million for three years, and $35 million if the option was picked up.
So, it definitely was a laughable offer. The Sox were missing two guaranteed years, $70 million, and their AAV would have been $3 million lower.
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Playing devil’s advocate, however, it makes sense why the Sox didn’t want to go long-term. Alonso’s already in his 30s, and the Sox’ core of their roster is in their mid-20s. They simply don’t match timelines.
On top of that, Alonso is awful on defense, so after one or two years, he’d be a $30 million DH. Although once again, the Sox spent a bag on J.D. Martinez to be a DH, and they won the World Series.
Hopefully, the Sox get it together. Multiple top sluggers have now been signed, and the Sox have yet to make a blockbuster move. If they want to keep a sliver of fan support, they need to go get two bats now.
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