Missing out on Kyle Schwarber was one thing. The former Red Sox slugger never seemed like a particularly realistic option this time around. But Pete Alonso? That felt a lot more realistic... right up until Wednesday afternoon.
Alonso will be coming to the American League East, but not to Boston. As first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, the free-agent slugger has reportedly agreed to a five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles.
Alonso seemed like he would have been a very good fit for the Red Sox. He plays first base and he's a right-handed power bat, both of which would fill a need. The 31-year-old has hit 34 or more home runs in five straight seasons, not to mention a career-high 53 back in 2019. He topped 100 RBIs four times in his seven years as a New York Met.
"You lost what would have been a really good fit," WEEI's Rob Bradford said in an instant reaction video. "We can't ignore this. The fact of the matter is that the Red Sox were interested in this guy, he fit what they needed very, very well, they knew that, and they lost out to the Orioles."
It's unclear what Craig Breslow's offensive plan will be from here. Missing out on both Schwarber and Alonso could certainly make re-signing Alex Bregman a more urgent matter.
At first base, Boston may end up needing to hope that Triston Casas comes back healthy and productive. WEEI and NESN's Lou Merloni took to X to push for Kazuma Okamoto, who was posted by the Yomiuri Giants last month.
Reacting to the signing on Jones & Keefe, Rich Keefe called Alonso going to Baltimore "devastating." Adam Jones echoed that sentiment and said it was "frustrating" that the Red Sox wouldn't give Alonso the contract that Baltimore did.