Pete Alonso Has Been Worth Every Penny on the Orioles

Every franchise searching for a new identity eventually reaches the same conclusion: it needs a star to usher in a new era.

Examples of this exist across every sport. The New York Knicks did it with Jalen Brunson. The Texas Rangers did it with Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Those signings were questioned and even criticized at first. That was until they proved the doubters wrong and helped deliver championships to their cities.

For the Baltimore Orioles, a franchise that hasn’t won the World Series since 1983 or even returned to the Fall Classic since then, building around a new star was always the best move. They already had homegrown talent in Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, with more budding stars like Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers on the way.

Still, they needed a proven veteran they could count on both on the field and in the clubhouse to help change the culture. That player was Pete Alonso.

The Orioles signed Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract, the second-largest deal in franchise history. Only Chris Davis’ seven-year, $161 million contract carried a higher total value. Alonso’s $31 million average annual salary is the highest the organization has ever handed out.

The move was monumental for the franchise and one it simply couldn’t afford to get wrong, both literally and figuratively. Anyone who’s watched the Orioles this season has seen how Alonso has changed the team for the better, both on and off the field.

Stats were taken prior to play on July 4.

More Than Just a Home Run Hitter

While Alonso isn’t putting up the MVP-caliber numbers we’ve seen from him in the past, he’s still having another strong season. The Polar Bear is hitting .247/.339/.464 with 19 home runs, 59 RBIs and a 124 wRC+. His 1.7 fWAR also ranks just behind Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman for the team lead.

What makes Alonso so valuable is his consistency. His numbers rarely fluctuate. He’s currently on pace for 35 home runs and 109 RBIs, right in line with the production he’s delivered throughout his career.

In every full major league season since his debut in 2019, excluding the shortened 2020 campaign, Alonso has hit at least 34 home runs and driven in at least 88 runs. He’s topped 40 home runs multiple times and eclipsed 110 RBIs in multiple seasons. He’s simply the kind of hitter every team wants in the middle of its lineup.

Since Alonso debuted in 2019, only two players have hit more home runs than his 283. Kyle Schwarber has 298, while Aaron Judge leads the way with 302.

Having that kind of presence in the lineup changes how opposing teams pitch. Every mistake carries the threat of ending up over the fence.

Alonso’s durability is another part of his value that often gets overlooked. He’s appeared in all 89 games this season after playing all 162 games in each of the previous two years.

In an era where injuries and workload management have become part of every season, it’s rare to find a player who takes the field every day. Alonso is one of the best in baseball at doing exactly that. His availability has become one of his greatest strengths, and it’s something that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

One of the biggest improvements in Alonso’s game this season has come on the defensive side. Last year with the Mets, he posted a -9 Outs Above Average. This year, he’s at +2.

One of the biggest reasons the Mets chose not to re-sign Alonso was his lackluster defense. The organization wanted to prioritize run prevention over keeping one of the game’s best power hitters. Safe to say that decision hasn’t worked out.

Why the Mets Got It Wrong

All of this, of course, makes the Mets’ decision not to retain Alonso this offseason even more confusing.

Alonso wasn’t just another free agent. He was a homegrown star who helped revitalize the franchise. He broke the rookie home run record and won National League Rookie of the Year in his first season. He then played at least 152 games in each of his six full seasons. Along the way, he became the franchise’s all-time home run leader with 254 long balls.

Then came arguably the biggest moment of his career. With the Mets down to their final two outs and trailing by two runs in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Alonso launched a game-tying two-run homer that instantly became one of the greatest moments in franchise history.

A fan or player hears all of that and immediately thinks the same thing: that’s a franchise player you never let walk. Yet David Stearns and the Mets did exactly that.

Alonso’s departure isn’t the only reason the Mets are 16 games under .500 to begin July. Still, it certainly deserves a large share of the blame. The Mets rank 28th in slugging percentage at .375. Not bringing back one of baseball’s best power hitters isn’t exactly a recipe for success.

The Mets took Alonso’s presence on and off the field for granted. Now Baltimore gets to reap the rewards. And you won’t hear Mike Elias or Craig Albernaz complaining about it.

The Veteran Baltimore Needed

Throughout the season, Alonso’s Orioles teammates have praised his leadership. This young Orioles team never had a clubhouse problem. What it lacked was a proven veteran star who had been through it all. Alonso has filled that role.

“We would do little things here and there, but I’d say this is the first year when I’ve felt that presence, that leadership presence,” Mayo said. “He’s been great. We haven’t had a guy come into that type of role, making the biggest contract in our history. So it’s definitely a higher level of respect for Pete.”

After wearing his heart on his sleeve throughout his time in New York, Alonso came to Baltimore with one simple expectation: be himself.

“Pete was brought in to be Pete Alonso,” Craig Albernaz said.

And that’s exactly what he’s done. Even if the Orioles haven’t fully seen the results in the standings yet, Alonso’s impact has already been felt throughout the organization.

Home runs will always be what Pete Alonso is known for. But that’s only part of what Baltimore paid for. The Orioles invested in a proven superstar, a dependable everyday player and a respected clubhouse leader. Less than a year into the contract, Alonso has proven he’s worth every penny.