CLEARWATER, Fla. – Shortly after the Phillies re-signed Kyle Schwarber in December, a crew official was requested what Plan B was if the slugger had taken his skills elsewhere.
“There was none,” the official stated. “We weren’t letting him get away.”
Pete Alonso, who would have made lots of sense if the Phillies wanted a Plan B for a slugging designated hitter, has no bother believing that.
“There was a little bit of dialogue, very, very early, more of a ‘Hey, how you doing?’ type of thing,” stated Alonso, who was additionally a free agent this winter. “But they have been like, ‘All our eggs are with Schwarbs.’
“And they should have been. Kyle means a lot to that franchise and that clubhouse and I’m really happy for him because he’s in the right spot. He just fits really well with that group and that clubhouse. The Phillies got a good one in Schwarbs.”
Schwarber was pursued by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles. He returned to the Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal. Twenty-four hours later, the Orioles signed Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract. He will play first base for the O’s and carry a slugging bat to their lineup, identical to he did for seven seasons with the New York Mets.
Alonso visited Clearwater along with his new crew Friday. He had a pair of singles towards Phillies prospect Andrew Painter. He was booed like a Met. Phillies followers keep in mind these 18 dwelling runs and 62 RBIs he produced towards their crew in 104 video games with the Mets.
“I love playing in Philly,” Alonso stated. “The Bank is a fun place to hit. The ball flies. The fans are rowdy. They bring a lot of energy. And the Phillies always have a great team. They’re super talented. You’ve got to bring it when you play them.”
Alonso hit a majors-leading 53 homers as a rookie with the Mets in 2019, Zack Wheeler’s final season with that membership. The Mets made little try to retain Wheeler when he grew to become a free agent and signed with the Phillies earlier than the 2020 season. Alonso can empathize. He averaged 41 homers and 113 RBIs in his six full seasons (minus the 2020 COVID season) with the Mets, and by no means performed in lower than 152 video games in a full season. Despite this, the Mets have been reluctant to provide Alonso greater than a three-year contract this winter. He turned 31 in December.
If Alonso’s time in Baltimore is as profitable as Wheeler’s has been in Philadelphia, the Orioles can have made an excellent signing.
“I can’t think of Wheels as anything else other than a Phillie,” Alonso stated. “Just like Schwarbs. As quickly as he came to visit, it’s like, that is the perfect place for him, not simply contractually, however the match is correct. He’s unlocked his true potential with the Phillies. He’s a high contender for the Cy Young yearly. He’s been an absolute stud.
“As a player, I knew he was nasty because facing him in live at-bats in spring was never fun. I’m happy for him and his family. This is the best version of himself. They’ve been able to get the most out of him.”
Alonso additionally had excessive reward for Cristopher Sanchez, who has blossomed into an ace the final couple of seasons.
“The first time I faced him was in ’22,” Alonso stated. “Obviously, him throwing harder makes his off-speed stuff play better. The changeup is up there with the best.”
Starting pitching is a Phillies energy. The membership led the majors with 84 high quality begins final season. The beginning employees’s 3.53 ERA was second-best within the majors. As a frequent opponent throughout his time in New York, Alonso believes catcher J.T. Realmuto has loads to do with that.
“If you look at what he means to the pitching staff, he’s really an unbelievable asset to have,” Alonso stated. “He’s managing games. He posts every day. His 145 games as a catcher are like a position player’s 190 games. What he does is incredible, how he manages the staff. Not just pitch-calling and game management, but he’s won Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves. He’s the whole package, everything you want in a catcher.”
Alonso stated he’ll miss the 13 conferences per 12 months towards the Phillies within the National League East, however he’s desperate to really feel the depth of the American League East.
“I’m stoked for where I’m at,” he stated.
That’s Baltimore.
But if the Phillies hadn’t been capable of re-up Kyle Schwarber — who knows? Pete Alonso would have been an excellent Plan B, even when the Phillies by no means actually had one.
