The music first base game really took off last week, with several players at the position being signed or traded.
The most notable of these is Pete Alonso.
The free agent slugger felt his options narrowed as the Yankees, Astros, Guardians, Diamondbacks and Nationals signed or traded first basemen.
Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker, Carlos Santana, Josh Naylor and Nathaniel Rowe have all found new homes. This upset appears to be the strongest indicator that Alonso will return to where he was, the Mets, but Alonso and his agent Scott Boras are in no hurry.
Is there a market for Alonso other than Queens? Even with his options reduced, let's take a look at some landing spots that could still be logical.
san francisco giants
The team, which has tried to acquire big hitters in free agency over the past few winters but ended up striking out in vain, finally made headlines by signing Willie Adams to a seven-year contract worth $182 million. Under a new front office led by Buster Posey, the Giants will bring polar bears to the cold bay waters to howl even louder (no, Boras didn't write this).
Alonso has thrived at Oracle Park, hitting seven home runs in 17 career games and posting a .910 OPS. The Giants used a platoon at first base that included LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores (who had a dominant season as a right-hander).
texas rangers
The 2023 World Series champions are still in winning mode with a roster that includes Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jacob deGrom.
The Rangers traded Lowe and left-handed reliever Robert Garcia to Washington over the weekend, and the team could turn to Alonso for additional pop. Jake Berger, acquired in a trade with the Marlins, is part of the first base slot, but could also be added to the equation at DH and third base if the Rangers sign Alonso.
seattle mariners
Does Alonso really want to spend the next few years (or years) playing his home games in a stadium where long balls are almost impossible? It may be necessary to make a little more effort to sign a contract.
The Mariners certainly could use a bat or two after finishing 21st in MLB in points scored. Luke Lally, who played both first base and the outfield last season, is at the top of the depth list at the position. He was the Mariners' first baseman by committee last season, which also included Ty France and Justin Turner.
st louis cardinals
Goldschmidt left the team as a free agent and reached an agreement with the Yankees last weekend for one year and $12.5 million. Alonso is a good fit, but the Cardinals have shown little inclination to spend money this offseason. Could they give Alonso a nine-figure contract? The five-year contract worth $130 million that Goldschmidt received before the 2020 season was one of the largest contracts awarded to a first baseman in recent years.
As it stands, it appears the Cardinals will enter spring training with Alec Burleson as their first baseman. Burleson has experience at the position and brought a respectable left-handed hitter (.734 OPS) to the Cardinals' lineup last season.
los angeles angels
With the Dodgers being the toast of baseball and an Orange County team struggling with frequent injuries to Mike Trout and searching for an identity post-Ohtani, the disparity between the two Los Angeles teams could not be greater. It got bigger.
Signing Alonso would add momentum to a team that lost 99 games last season. Angels owner Arte Moreno has previously indicated he is willing to pay big money for Batt, but following the Albert Pujols and Trout deals that didn't or didn't work out in the club's favor. You may hesitate. Nolan Chanuel posted a pedestrian .705 OPS as the team's regular first baseman last season.
