The Houston Astros were a dynasty in Major League Baseball for nearly a decade, but that dynasty faces an uncertain future.
Houston has currently made seven consecutive American League Championship Series appearances and is on track to win an eighth in 2024. But the roster has become expensive, the pitching staff has been plagued by injuries, and there is a key hole in the lineup.
The Astros got almost nothing from their first basemen in 2024, which is inexcusable at one of the game’s most productive offensive positions. José Abreu was released, Jon Singleton was mediocre at best, and Houston even experimented with putting catcher Yainer Diaz at first base.
While the Astros probably won’t be able to do much to fill first base for the remainder of 2024, one insider believes they could sign the biggest free-agent name at the position next winter.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand listed the Astros among his top 2025 destinations for New York Mets star Pete Alonso, a four-time All-Star first baseman during his time in Queens.
“Alonso will be one of the better power hitters on the market,” Feinsand said. “The Mets slugger has been one of the most reliable power hitters since his debut in 2019, averaging 44 home runs per year in his first four 162-game seasons.”
Alonso, 29, may have damaged his value over the past two seasons with mediocre performances by his high standards. Although his OPS was still above .800 in both 2023 and 2024, his on-base skills have declined and he has been less reliable in high-pressure situations than ever before.
But if Alonso won’t cost $200 million or more, that could well increase Houston’s chances of getting him. The Astros have the third-highest payroll in MLB in 2024, and homegrown stars like Framber Valdez and Kyle Tucker are still available for contract extensions.
Plus, the home runs speak for themselves, and Alonso has hit 219 since entering the league, putting him one behind New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, who has hit the most home runs in baseball during that time.
If Alonso is still a threat to hit 40 home runs in his 30s, he will be the answer Houston has long been looking for at first base. The question, however, will be whether they believe in him enough to succeed this winter.
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