Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno is actively seeking to enhance the team's roster for the 2025 MLB season, with reports indicating interest in free agent Pete Alonso. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Angels are in discussions regarding Alonso, but there is a discrepancy in contract length expectations between the two parties.
Alonso, who recently became a free agent after six seasons with the New York Mets, is a highly sought-after player in a slow-moving free agent market. Following a disappointing season for the Angels, which marked the worst in franchise history, the team is eager to add an All-Star caliber player to their lineup. However, acquiring Alonso would necessitate a positional shift for Nolan Schanuel, likely moving him to left field.
Schanuel's rapid ascent from a first-round draft pick to the majors was marked by a strong performance in 2023, boasting a .365 batting average. Despite this, the Angels' management is looking to bolster their offensive power, with Heyman suggesting they might consider another player, Santander, as a viable option.
Alonso, 30, previously turned down a lucrative seven-year, $158 million offer, which has not yielded the results he anticipated. Following a subpar offensive season, he recorded a .240 batting average and a career-low OPS of .788, alongside 34 home runs and 88 RBIs. Although the Angels have made moves to improve their roster, including acquiring Jorge Soler from the Atlanta Braves, the consensus is that Alonso's caliber remains unmatched. Despite the interest from the Angels, predictions lean towards Alonso returning to the Mets as negotiations continue.
