Both would add a much-needed power bat to Boston’s lineup. But Masslive.com’s Christoper Smith notes Alonso brings something extra to the table.

“Alonso, a right-handed hitter, could be used at both first and DH with (Triston) Casas, a left-handed hitter, at first base vs. righty starters,” Smith reports.

That isn’t lost on Breslow, who watched Casas go down in May with a season-ending knee injury.

Valuing Flexibility

“I think flexibility is very valuable,” Breslow Monday said at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, according to Smith. “There is certainly a talent threshold that is elite enough to warrant just penciling somebody in.

“If David Ortiz were available in his prime, then certainly that’s just something that you commit. But given we have as an example, four outfielders that we think are capable of playing every day. The DH spot could be an opportunity to keep guys fresh and keep bats in the lineup,” Breslow added.

“I do think flexibility just given the versatility of the roster gives (manager) Alex (Cora) more ways to deploy and keep guys fresh and optimize matchups. But we’ll see what the market dictates and what makes the most sense for the roster,” Breslow concluded.

Part-Time DH?

Breslow’s line of thinking would seem to mesh with what The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey suggests.

“How open is Pete Alonso to spending time at DH? Like (Alex) Bregman, Alonso is looking for the big payday in free agency he didn’t get last offseason,” Healey reports. “For the Sox and others, Alonso being willing to split time between first base and DH would make him more attractive.”

“Sure, Alonso should probably join (Kyle) Schwarber as a full-time DH, but even then you can make a pretty good case for the former as a better investment,” MLB Trade Rumors reports.

Boston Roots?

Oh, and then there’s nugget of knowledge Monday from WEEI’s Rob Bradford.

“Things I learned today: Pete Alonso’s wife is from Quincy,” Bradford posted on X.

A five-time All-Star, Alonso was a free agent last winter and didn’t find a multi-year, nine-figure contract to his liking so he returned to the Mets, who gave him a two-year, $54 million deal with an opt-out clause.

The two-time Home Run Derby champion said after the regular season ended he would opt out of his contract and hit the open market, which he did last week.

The 30-year-old Alonso hit 38 home runs this season, which was eighth-best in the majors, and drove in 126 runs, second only to Schwarber.

Alonso, a home-grown Mets star, spent seven seasons in Queens. This year he became the franchise’s all-time home run leader, surpassing eight-time All-Star Darryl Strawberry.