The Chicago Cubs did not meet expectations after a big offseason in 2024. They will look to be aggressive in free agency this winter in hopes of winning the National League Central.
While listing free agents the Cubs should pursue instead of chasing Juan Soto, FanSided’s Zach Pressnell urged the Cubs to sign Pete Alonso of the New York Mets.
“All season, it was obvious that the Cubs needed to add a slugger to their lineup. Not only that, but Chicago needed an everyday first baseman as well. Because of this, they were heavily connected to New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso at the trade deadline,” wrote Pressnell. “Ultimately, the Mets were too good to sell, deciding to hold onto Alonso through the year.”
Alonso will be one of the most expensive players on the market, but the Cubs are not short on funds. Alonso turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension last summer, according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman. Spotrac predicts Alonso to sign a six-year, $174 million deal in free agency.
“Teams like the Mets and Mariners will be very aggressive in bringing Alonso in. The Mets are going to be aggressive on Juan Soto, so it’s hard to imagine they find the money to try to land both Alonso and Soto,” wrote Pressnell.
Despite how good Alonso is, it’s hard to imagine a world where any team with a chance at Soto, even the Mets, would prioritize him over Soto. The Cubs can compete financially with Soto’s top suitors, but there is no indication that he will be willing to join the Cubs. The favorites to land him are the Mets and Yankees.
