The prolonged quest for a massive free agent contract by former New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso was one of the most mesmerizing storylines of the last MLB offseason. The saga finally ended when Alonso returned to the Mets after all, signing an abbreviated but nonetheless lucrative, two-year, $54 million contract — returning to the Mets just long enough to set the team’s all-time home run record with 264.

Unfortunately for him, Alonso was also on hand for a historic collapse that saw the Mets fall out of the playoff picture completely amid a swirl of reported clubhouse conflicts and tensions.

Alonso opted out of his contract after a single season and hit the free agent market once again, and if an unconfirmed rumor that swept social media on Sunday turns out to be accurate, the 30-year-old right-handed slugger will soon agree to target his home run swing next season at the famed Green Monster in Boston’s Fenway Park.

Rumor Says Alonso ‘Disrespected’ by Mets

The rumor originated with an account on X (formerly Twitter) known for delivering gambling tips. The account, using the name “IB the Gambler,” claimed to have knowledge of the Red Sox’s stance toward Alonso — which according to the account is one of considerable interest. In fact, according to the account, the Red Sox are on the verge of signing Alonso.

“Red Sox are prepared to make a monster offer to Pete Alonso and he’s leaning towards accepting after feeling disrespected last offseason,” IB the Gambler wrote. “Major blow to Mets lineup if Pete leaves and huge addition to Red Sox in AL East.”

The interest of the Red Sox in Alonso has certainly been reported elsewhere, by more conventional sources, as well. In a New York Post report published Thursday, longtime MLB insider Jon Heyman wrote that “the Red Sox are considering signing up to two of these five big-time lineup enhancements: uberpopular Kyle Schwarber, plus Pete Alonso, Kazuma Okamoto and J.T. Realmuto, as well as last winter’s big pickup Alex Bregman.”

Another insider, Jon Morosi of MLB Network, said that “the Red Sox are the strongest contender of anyone to take Pete Alonso away from the New York Mets.” And other than the Mets, the Red Sox were listed as the ‘best fit’ for Alonso by ESPN.com.

Alonso Projected to Land 9-Figure Contract

It comes as no surprise, then, that the Red Sox may actually be making an actual bid to sign Alonso, solving a deficiency at first base last season that was filled largely by journeyman Abraham Toro and platoon specialist Romy Gonzalez. The Red Sox 2018 first-round draft pick Triston Casas, once projected as Boston’s first baseman of the future, has managed to play only 92 games over the last two seasons.

So what would be a “monster” offer that the Red Sox might be preparing for Alonso, as the online rumor claims?

Contract estimates for the seven-year veteran typically range well into the nine figures. Spotrac sets his value at $113 million over four years, while ESPN.com sees his offer coming in at $110 million, also over four years.

On the other hand, Just Baseball analyst Ryan Finkelstein projects Alonso to receive up to a six-year deal for a whopping $210 million, which genuinely would qualify as a “monster” offer for Alonso to start swinging for the Green Monster.

Jonathan Vankin JONATHAN VANKIN is an award-winning journalist and writer who now covers baseball and other sports for Heavy.com. He twice won New England Press Association awards for sports feature writing. He was a sports editor and writer at The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo, Japan, covering Japan Pro Baseball, boxing, sumo and other sports. More about Jonathan Vankin