Jeff Passan's latest comments could lead to slugger falling into Blue Jays' lap

As we head into the first post-Winter Meetings weekend of the offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays have started answering questions about how they will rebuild on the fly for 2025.

The trade for second baseman Andrés Giménez tells us the front office is still enamored with fielding the best defense possible. Right-hander Nick Sandlin, who came over in the same deal, along with the addition of a familiar face in Yimi García, has given the bullpen some much-needed revitalization.

But the looming question remains about how they're going to improve the offense. Giménez has potential, but after a couple of down years isn't a sure bet. Even if he reverts back to his breakout 2021 form at the plate, he doesn't provide an intimidating power presence — something the Blue Jays desperately need to support Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Lack of market for Pete Alonso might lead slugger to the Blue Jays

So where do they go from here? There's one free agent slugger who sounds like he's struggling to gain any traction in free agency and who could be an attractive option for Toronto: former New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.

Speaking on ESPN's Baseball Tonight podcast, MLB insider Jeff Passan recently gave some interesting insight into Alonso's market, or lack of one, as the Winter Meetings wound down on Wednesday.

“I think it's going to be a really interesting, we're going to get a real sense of just how involved Steve Cohen is beyond Juan Soto ... ” Passan told host Buster Olney. “But Pete Alonso's case is really interesting right now, and it's going to be fascinating to see how his market unfolds, because the perception is that there's not much of one. But Pete Alonso is also a guy who has been a consistent producer. He always hits home runs, he always drives in runs."

Now that the Mets have inked Juan Soto, nobody seems to have any idea what their next moves will be, including whether Alonso winds up back at Citi Field (he's also a Scott Boras client). Regardless, Alonso's lack of market is surprising and not surprising all at the same time.

Alonso has been the most productive first baseman over the last half-decade during his run in New York. Since debuting in 2019, his 226 home runs lead all first basemen, as do the 586 RBI he has racked up. In fact, he leads all major leaguers in RBI over that time and ranks second in homers behind only Aaron Judge.

However, he just turned 30, and as Passan wrote in his offseason preview in November, "he's a right-right, first-base-only power hitter who turns 30 in a month, and historically that profile ages poorly."

Adding Alonso is an idea that we broached earlier in the offseason when word surfaced that the Blue Jays were open to moving Guerrero across the diamond to third base. Sure, Alonso had a slightly "down" year overall in 2024, hitting .240 with a career-low .788 OPS but you can't say with a straight face that the Blue Jays wouldn't welcome 30+ homers and another player who should be around the 100 RBI plateau.

With the way this offseason is going for Toronto from a big-name free agent perspective, they may find themselves falling back on a player like Alonso, especially if teams aren't knocking down the door to sign him.