Pete Alonso-Reds rumors are nothing but Scott Boras' petulant negotiating tactics

Don't take the bait, Reds fans.

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso
New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso | Harry How/GettyImages

Haha, very fun! Great joke guys, really! In case you haven't heard the latest free agency scuttlebutt, the Cincinnati Reds could develop as a dark horse to sign free agent slugger Pete Alonso. You're still chuckling, aren't you? I know, I got a good laugh out of that report too.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post, who's been following Alonso's free agency closely, revealed that Cincinnati may consider going after the four-time All-Star who's been languishing on the free agent market since the offseason began. Heyman is one of more trusted sources in MLB circles, so there's every reason to believe that there's a nugget of truth to these latest Reds rumors.

But if you think for one second that Bob Castellini and the Reds ownership group are going to drop $20 million-plus on Alonso, I've got some oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you. This is nothing more than a negotiating tactic that Scott Boras is using as he attempts to squeeze more money out of Steve Cohen's wallet.

Reds Rumors: The Pete Alonso to Cincy chatter is nothing but Scott Boras' childish negotiating tactics

Nothing would make the Reds fanbase happier than seeing Alonso with a wishbone 'C' on his ball cap come Opening Day. Alonso is one of the top sluggers in the game with a career 134 OPS+ and 30-plus home runs in each of the past four seasons. Alonso could very well break Barry Bonds' all-time record for homers in a single season if he spent half of the 2025 schedule slugging away at Great American Ball Park.

But that's not going to happen, folks. The Mets called Boras' bluff, and now MLB's super agent is embarrassed that he overplayed his hand. The Mets reportedly offered Alonso a seven-year, $158 million in 2023 that he turned down, and even more recently rejected a short-term deal worth at least $70 million. Boras laughably predicted Alonso's next contract to mirror the nine-year, $214 million deal that Prince Fielder signed before the 2012 season. Keep dreaming, Scott!

These latest Reds rumors linking Alonso to Cincinnati are about as humorous as the idea that he'll wind up with the Los Angeles Angels or San Francisco Giants. Alonso has two options; take the Toronto Blue Jays' offer —whatever that may be — or return to the Mets. The Chicago Cubs could be a sneaky candidate to add Alonso if his market deteriorates.

This is classic Boras' nonsense whereby he's just throwing out the name of a dark horse contender — in this case, the Reds — as a pawn in his game of contractual chess to increase the offer for one of his clients who's been lingering on the free agent market. The same thing happened to Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, and other Boras clients last winter. To date, the Mets' owner has been smart enough to hold the line.

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