Former New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso is now with the Baltimore Orioles, a move that raised some eyebrows given his long tenure with the Mets and the fact that he seemed destined to remain in New York for his entire career. However, Alonso’s transition to the Orioles has not been without its bumps. It appears there may have been some friction between him and Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, which ultimately led to Alonso signing with an American League team.

Alonso’s Slow Start in 2026

Alonso, who is known for his big power numbers, has had a bit of a rough start to the 2026 season. As of now, he is hitting .214 with eight home runs. While those numbers aren’t terrible, they do reflect a slow start to the campaign. However, despite the early struggles, Alonso has been relatively consistent overall, and once his power numbers kick into gear, he is expected to return to his usual 25-30+ home run form. The Florida native’s potential to hit home runs remains strong, and once he gets going, he could be a key asset for the Orioles moving forward.

Orioles’ Struggles and Trade Rumors

Despite Alonso’s potential to turn things around, the Baltimore Orioles have had their own struggles to begin the 2026 season. The team sits at 19-23 and is already in fourth place in the American League East, a full eight games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. As the team battles to stay in the playoff hunt, some have started speculating that Alonso could be traded. However, despite these rumors, sources from Sports Illustrated suggest that a trade is unlikely in the near future.

Alonso recently signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles in December, after spending the first seven years of his career with the Mets. Given this long-term commitment and the team’s rebuilding focus, the Orioles are not expected to part ways with Alonso any time soon.

Orioles’ Long-Term Plans and Alonso’s Role

The Orioles are building their team around players like Alonso, and his leadership and experience will be valuable as they look to return to contention. While the Orioles had a disappointing 2025 season, finishing with a 87-75 record, they remain committed to a long-term vision that includes Alonso in the lineup for years to come.

“Moving on from Alonso shortly after signing him, even if it’s not even a year in, would be a questionable decision by Baltimore,” said Curt Bishop of SI. “The team is still in the early stages of its rebuild, and trading away a key player like Alonso, especially after locking him in long term, could send the wrong message.”

The Case for Keeping Alonso

Even with the Orioles’ rough start to 2026, the team is still focused on the future, and Alonso plays a significant role in that. His presence in the clubhouse will be valuable for mentoring younger players, and his ability to contribute offensively remains a key part of the Orioles’ plans moving forward. The Orioles are unlikely to make drastic changes this early into Alonso’s contract, as his leadership and experience could play an important part in the team’s future success.

However, the situation could change depending on how the season progresses. If the Orioles find themselves out of contention at the trade deadline and decide to shift their focus entirely toward rebuilding, they might reconsider their stance on Alonso. But with his contract status and the team’s investment in him, it’s more likely that Alonso will remain in Baltimore for the foreseeable future.

Conclusion: A Difficult Trade Scenario

Though Alonso’s slow start and the Orioles’ struggles have led to some speculation about a potential trade, it seems unlikely that Baltimore will move on from him any time soon. Trading a player of Alonso’s caliber, especially after signing him to a long-term deal, would be a difficult decision and could send the wrong message about the team’s long-term plans.

If the Orioles decide they don’t have a future with Alonso, it would be better to trade him sooner rather than later. But with Alonso’s contract and value, such a move is not as simple as it may appear. For now, fans of the Orioles can expect to see Alonso continuing to be a part of the team’s rebuilding efforts, as he still has plenty of potential to contribute both on the field and in the clubhouse.