Former MLB GM Links Minnesota Twins to Pete Alonso Again

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Pete Alonso, New York Mets
Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Twins are trying to climb up the ranks of what now appears to be the AL Central, which currently looks like one of the best divisions in Major League Baseball. To do that, though, they need some more pop offensively.

That’s probably why the only Twins player who made former MLB GM turned MLB insider, Jim Bowden’s (The Athletic) newly dropped MLB All-Star Game projected roster was Ryan Jeffers. And he barely limped onto the theoretical AL squad as Bowden’s fourth catcher and one of the last spots filled.

Ryan Jeffers, Twins
(1.8 WAR, 12 HR, 36 RBI, 143 OPS+)

He has been the Twins’ best offensive player this season, leading the team in slugging percentage, home runs and RBIs. Jeffers is deserving and serves as the Twins’ lone representative in this projection, edging out the A’s Brent Rooker and the Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton for this roster spot.

Jim Bowden’s projected 2024 AL All-Star Team – The Athletic

Ryan Jeffers being the only Twin picked to Bowden’s AL All-Star team is not a surprise. The Twins’ star players (Carlos Correa, Pablo Lopez, Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis) have either been injured or not performed at All-Star levels during the first half of 2024.

What was more noteworthy in Bowden’s piece, regarding the Minnesota Twins, was hidden further down in the article. Underneath Jim’s American League projections, were his National League participants.

Jim Bowden links Minnesota Twins to Pete Alonso (again)

One of the names listed for the NL is New York Mets 1st baseman, Pete Alonso. That’s not the surprising part, being that Pete plays in the New York market and he absolutely rakes. But the (26-35) Mets are a trainwreck and ready to sell at the deadline. Thus, Pete is on their trade block and VERY available for the taking.

So in his little excerpt on Alonso, Bowden dove into the slugger’s trade market. And guess who he mentioned as a likely suitor, when trade talks start to get heated in the next month or two? That’s right, your Minnesota Twins.

Alonso leads the Mets in home runs and RBIs, like he did last year. In all likelihood he will get traded at the deadline for a package of prospects and then the Mets will do everything they can to re-sign him in the offseason. He loves New York and New York loves him. The Mariners, Astros, Yankees, Twins and Giants are among the teams that could use him.

Jim Bowden links Pete Alonso to Minnesota Twins, among others – The Athletic

The 29-year-old Alonso is a former Rookie of the Year winner, a 3-time All-Star and 2-time Home Run Derby winner. He has a career .862 OPS (136 OPS+) and he’s hit 40 or more nukes and driven in over 115 runs in each of the past two seasons.

In other words, Pete Alonso is exactly what the Minnesota Twins lineup needs. And as we get closer to the trade deadline, it appears that Derek Falvey & Co might realize it too. And this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Twins linked to the Mets’ home run champ.

Today’s mention by Bowden comes just a couple weeks after he did the same thing in another piece for The Athletic. Of note, this updated list of teams does not include the Guardians, as his last one did. This one, instead, includes the Giants. Clearly, if the Mets move to trade Alonso, Bowden expect the Twins to be interested.

Will a move get done, in the end? Before I’d consider saying yes, you’d have to convince me that the Pohlads would be willing to eat any salary at the Trade Deadline. Alonso is making $20.5 million this season, which means the Twins would have to cover about $8 million, if they were to make a deal right before the deadline. He is a rental, so it’s highly unlikely he would return for 2025.

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