Though the Pirates have shown flashes of being a playoff-caliber team throughout the season, they ultimately fell short and will not make the playoffs.
Pittsburgh still had many bright spots this season, including the emergence of superstar pitcher Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz, who became the tenth player in Pirates history to record a 20-20 season. One area Pittsburgh needs help in for next season is their lineup.
The Pirates should target New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso in free agency according to Sports Illustrated’s Evan Massey.
“The Pirates should pursue star slugging first baseman Pete Alonso when free agency opens up,” Massey said. “Rowdy Tellez wasn’t bad, but Alonso would be a huge step in the right direction. He would bring more pop to the lineup and is the kind of piece that Pittsburgh could build their offense around.”
“During the 2024 MLB season with the New York Mets so far, Alonso has played in 155 games. He has hit 34 home runs to go along with 88 RBI, while batting .245/.334/.473. Those numbers would look great in the heart of the Pirates’ lineup. At 29 years old, Alonso is going to cost a pretty penny to acquire. That being said, Pittsburgh should be more than willing to spend big to acquire talent. A piece like Alonso could power them to being a serious contender in the National League.”
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Alonso has hit 34 or more home runs in almost every season he’s played. He will be a hot commodity this offseason who will have a major impact on a team’s lineup. Signing a player of Alonso’s caliber in the offseason may be just what the Pirates need to get over the hump and be a playoff contender.
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