Right now, first base is a black hole for the Houston Astros.
José Abreu was so bad in his second year with the team that Houston decided to release him mid-season and carry on the remainder of his contract. Abreu has not found a permanent place.
Jon Singleton has had the most at-bats and his batting average is a serviceable .232 with nine home runs and 28 RBI, but he’s nowhere near the consistent hitting power that the position requires.
The Astros have used their super-utility player Mauricio Dubón there on occasion. A possible long-term solution would have been Joey Loperfido, but the Astros traded him at the deadline along with two other young stars for pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.
So Houston will likely focus more on the free agent position than it did before a season. And the best first baseman to hit the free agent market is probably Pete Alonso of the New York Mets. New York Post described the Astros as “suitable” for the sixth-year star’s services.
The right-handed All-Star is playing with the Mets under a $20.5 million contract agreed to in January so the two sides could avoid arbitration, but this is the last year the Mets have control over Alonso’s contract status.
Since New York didn’t trade him by the deadline, it’s now up to Mets owner Steve Cohen and baseball president David Stearns to try to keep him long-term.
Alonso’s agent is Scott Boras, who, despite a disappointing offseason representing clients such as pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, will likely take a tough approach to negotiating for the hitter they call the “Polar Bear.”
The 29-year-old is having another good season, hitting 23 home runs and scoring 60 runs. After a slow start, he has increased his batting average to .242.
The four-time All-Star and former National League Rookie of the Year has hit 215 home runs and scored 558 runs. He’s also durable, with the fewest games he’s played in an entire season being the 152 he played in 2021.
Houston may also have an advantage that other teams don’t have: Kyle Tucker.
The outfielder is a three-time All-Star and one of the best power hitters in the game, although he hasn’t played since June due to a shin injury.
But he and Alonso have known each other for a long time. Both are from Tampa, Florida, and both were teammates at Plant High School. Maybe the two would like to meet again?
Of course, the Astros would have to extend Tucker’s contract long-term, which the Astros have failed to do twice. Perhaps signing Alonso would make things a little easier.
