DALLAS — The Yankees are plotting a possible big response to the Mets signing Juan Soto that also would be a more-than-subtle message to their crosstown rivals:
You poach our biggest free agent star, we just might see how you like it.
Pete Alonso and Soto aren’t apples to apples, but the Yankees signing the Mets free agent would fill a first base opening and add one of the game’s best sluggers to their lineup, perhaps as a cleanup hitter batting behind AL MVP Aaron Judge.
The Yankees are interested in signing Alonso, a person with knowledge of the organization’s thinking told NJ Advance Media baseball columnist Bob Klapisch on Monday. The person, who is not authorized to speak publicly on the subject, said the Yankees “really like Alonso,” who hit 226 homers in his six seasons with the Mets, including 34 in 2024.
Also, the Yankees have talked to the Cardinals about trading for nine-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado, Katie Woo of The Athletic reported.
On Sunday, the day that the Mets signed Soto for a record $765 million over 10 years, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said that his “intention is to try” to trade Arenado, who has $76 million and three seasons remaining in his contract plus a full no-trade clause.
Even though the Yankees probably have to flexibility to add at least two or three pricy players after losing Soto, money will be a big factor on whether one, both or none end up in the Bronx.
The Rockies are paying $10 million of Arenado’s remainng $74 million, but the Cardinals still are going to have to pay down the contract to find a trade partner, probably at least half of $64 million, because he’s past his prime. Arenado, who turns 34 in April, is owed $32 million in 2025, $27 million in 2026 and $15 million in 2027. Last season was the first in 11 years in which he wasn’t an All-Star and/or won a Gold Glove.
“From a financial standpoint of trying to move our payroll … (trading) Arenado) would be a big help,” Mozeliak said. “It’s financial, but it also creates a runway for someone else. (Arenado) is not demanding a trade. He’s not telling me I have to do it, but I think in the best interest of both sides, I’d like to try to find him someplace to land.”
MLB Trade Rumors projects Alonso will end up with a deal for five years and $125 million. The Yankees might go that high to bring another big right-handed power bat to fill free agent Anthony Rizzo’s spot. A potential holdup are rumors that Alonso, who turned 30 last Saturday, is seeking a contract worth at least $200 million.
The Mets are expected to pass on re-signing Alonso for cheaper free agent options, perhaps Christian Walker for three years in the $60 million area, but Carlos Mendoza appears to be hoping for a reunion.
“A guy like Pete, everybody knows what he brings to the table,” Mendoza said. “The power, the quality at-bats, his ability to post day in and day out. As a manager that’s a really good feeling.
“When you don’t have to worry about a position because you know that guy is going to be there regardless of the situation or how he’s feeling or what he’s going through … he showed this year, 162 games played, and that says a lot.”
Yankees GM Brian Cashman won’t talk about specific free agents or potential trade targets, but he says everyone is an option with Soto not coming back.
“We have a lot of different areas to fix on this team,” Cashman said. “We have vacancies from free agency. And so we’re exploring trades as well as free agency and comparing that to our internal options that we could promote. Those are decisions we have to make.”
Cashman says he’s not feeling any pressure to appease fans who think most or all of the $760 million that he offered to Soto should immediately be spent to improve the roster.
“We have big-money guys and we just want to add quality players around them,” Cashman said. “Whether that’s with more investment in the roster with the financial might, if it’s trades, our control players coming back, it can be in various different forms.
“We just have to play with what the available inventory is out there, and see if we can connect.”
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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.