A marquee slugger could be headed north.
The Toronto Blue Jays are one of three teams in discussions to sign first baseman Pete Alonso, whose free agency is reaching “a critical juncture,” The Athletic reported on Thursday.
The other two teams in the mix were not named in the report.
Alonso has spent his entire six-year MLB career with the New York Mets, who are eyeing a resolution with their long-time star, as reported by SportsNet New York.
The Mets also reportedly checked in with the Blue Jays on a trade for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., another slugging first baseman.
Alonso, a four-time All-Star, appeared in all 162 regular-season games for the Mets last season, bashing 34 home runs to go with 88 RBIs and a .240 batting average.
He’s notched 226 homers over 846 career contests, including a league-leading 53 in his rookie 2019 campaign.
Toronto would aim to keep Guerrero Jr., even if it signed the 30-year-old Alonso, The Athletic added, with the players rotating through first base and DH, while the Jays incumbent could also play the odd game at third base.
Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays recently avoided arbitration with a one-year, $28.5-million deal. The slugger is set to reach free agency after next season and has set the first day of spring training as a deadline for negotiations on a contract extension.
The 25-year-old bounced back from two down years last season, posting a .323 batting average with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs.
