The New York Mets appear poised to make a serious push for star third baseman Alex Bregman this offseason, positioning themselves as one of the frontrunners to lure him away from the Boston Red Sox. Should that bold move come to fruition, it may not be long before Boston attempts to return the favor with a move of equal magnitude one that could shake up the market and sting Mets fans just as much.
According to Heavy Sports reporter Matt Skillings, the Red Sox may already have a perfectly targeted response lined up. If Bregman does end up signing in Queens, Skillings believes Boston could pivot aggressively toward free agent slugger Pete Alonso, prying away one of the Mets’ most beloved and longest-tenured players in what he characterizes as a “retaliatory move.” It wouldn’t merely be a counterpunch; it would be a power statement directed at both the Mets and the Red Sox fanbase about how Boston intends to operate going forward.
Skillings laid out his reasoning with clarity: “If Alex Bregman does sign a contract with the New York Mets, it could light a fire under Red Sox general manager Craig Breslow to make a retaliatory move and sign Alonso. Boston has shown penny-pinching instincts in recent years, albeit before last season when they signed Bregman, Garrett Crochet and a slew of youngsters to deals,” he wrote. His argument points toward a broader shift brewing in Boston’s front office philosophy one that might rely less on bargain hunting and more on bringing in marquee names capable of transforming the lineup overnight.
To Skillings, the logic is straightforward: Pete Alonso fills multiple needs for the Red Sox, and his arrival would signal a clear commitment to winning. In his words, “Signing Alonso makes all the sense in the world for Boston. First and foremost, it would prove to the fanbase that the days of trying the ‘moneyball’ approach are over, and that the Red Sox are invested in spending money to win.”
That perspective resonates within the larger context of where the Red Sox find themselves today. The organization has endured several years of push-and-pull between rebuilding tendencies and half-measures of contention. While Boston has always operated as a big-market franchise, fans have grown increasingly frustrated with what they view as inconsistent spending patterns and missed opportunities to add impact talent. A splashy signing like Alonso an established middle-of-the-order slugger with proven postseason credentials would send an unmistakable message that Boston intends to reclaim its identity as an aggressive, win-now franchise unwilling to concede the spotlight to rivals.
Beyond symbolism, Alonso’s on-field presence would address an urgent structural need. After parting ways with Rafael Devers in a major trade last season and with Bregman potentially departing this winter, the Red Sox suddenly face significant power voids at the heart of their batting order. Their offense struggled to consistently generate home run production in 2025, particularly in key situations. Alonso, one of the most prolific home run hitters of the modern era, offers an immediate remedy. His track record speaks for itself: elite strength, natural lift in his swing plane, and a long history of punishing mistakes with towering shots to the pull side.
Skillings emphasized that point as well, writing, “Secondly, Alonso fills a vital need for Boston, both in the lineup and in the field. Without Bregman and Rafael Devers who was traded last season, power hitting was a huge concern for the Red Sox last season, a role Alonso could fill to perfection, especially with the Green Monster on his side for 81 games a season.”
Fenway Park, with its famously inviting left-field wall, could be a dream environment for Alonso. As a natural pull hitter who excels at lifting the ball down the line, he could potentially see an uptick in doubles and home runs simply by playing half his games in Boston. While his power already plays anywhere, Fenway’s quirks would likely amplify his production even further, allowing him to pepper the Monster regularly with lasers and moonshots alike.
On the other side of the equation, the Mets’ pursuit of Bregman signals their determination to reshape the roster after a deeply disappointing finish to the 2025 season. Owner Steve Cohen has never been shy about making bold, expensive moves to enhance the team’s playoff odds, and this winter looks no different. Even if Bregman’s power numbers have declined slightly in recent years, he remains one of the better defensive third basemen in the sport and consistently posts a strong batting average. His overall value as a reliable, high-contact, high-IQ hitter makes him a fit for any contending team, and the Mets appear ready to pounce.
However, Citi Field’s spacious dimensions could further suppress Bregman’s home run totals. The ballpark is notoriously unfriendly to hitters seeking to drive the ball over the fence, particularly right-handed batters who rely on deep pulls or opposite-field power. Still, the Mets seem interested in Bregman’s all-around game his defense, leadership, postseason experience, and steady presence in the middle of the lineup even if he no longer projects as a 30-homer candidate.
Meanwhile, Alonso remains one of the league’s premier sluggers despite some fluctuations in his overall batting average and on-base numbers. His raw power has not faded, and his ability to elevate the ball to his pull side makes him one of the most dangerous hitters in the league when he’s locked in. His style is also tailor-made for Fenway’s dimensions. In many ways, his offensive profile mirrors players who have historically thrived in Boston, ight-handed power hitters who can turn early contact into extra-base damage.
If Boston does indeed lose Bregman to the Mets, adding Alonso would not simply be an emotional response, it would be a structural correction to preserve the Red Sox’ competitive trajectory. Alonso could slide into the heart of the lineup immediately, fortifying an offense that struggled for identity last season. And unlike Bregman, whose value is spread across multiple skills, Alonso offers one premium elite tool: overwhelming power.
The potential domino effect between these two moves highlights how intertwined the Red Sox and Mets could become during this offseason. Both clubs are seeking lineup reinforcements, both have aggressive front offices willing to spend, and both are trying to correct the shortcomings that plagued them in 2025. Their needs and available financial resources align in ways that could create a fascinating back-and-forth dynamic over the course of the winter.
It’s not often that two teams appear poised to engage in a sort of de facto “free agency trade”—where one club’s signing directly influences another team to target one of their stars in return. But this winter could offer exactly that type of dramatic subplot. If the Mets move quickly to secure Bregman, the Red Sox may feel compelled to respond just as swiftly by locking down Alonso. Conversely, if Boston aggressively pursues Alonso first, that could complicate New York’s approach to rebuilding their lineup and force them to re-evaluate their priorities.
In that sense, the question is not simply who lands whom it’s about timing, leverage, fan expectations, and the broader implications each move will carry. Signing one of these stars would reshape either team’s offseason blueprint. Signing both would alter the American League and National League power landscapes dramatically.
For now, everything hinges on which front office acts first and how aggressively they’re willing to commit financially. The Mets know they need to patch multiple holes in the lineup, and Bregman could be a cornerstone piece. The Red Sox, meanwhile, recognize the emotional and practical importance of making a major offensive addition, particularly if Bregman departs. Alonso, as a former Rookie of the Year and one of baseball’s most recognizable sluggers, fits that bill perfectly.
This type of offseason storyline marquee teams circling marquee names, with potential revenge baked into the strategic calculus is precisely what makes free agency compelling for fans. It’s theater. It’s business. It’s rivalry through roster construction. And both franchises are desperate for momentum heading into 2026.
Whether this hypothetical free agency “trade” materializes remains to be seen. But the possibility alone has injected drama into a market that’s only just beginning to take shape. Both the Mets and Red Sox have the resources, motivation, and competitive fire to set the tone for the entire offseason.
Now it’s simply a matter of who makes the first move and whether the other punches back.
