The Baltimore Orioles have landed one of the biggest bats available this offseason. Free-agent slugger Pete Alonso has agreed to a five-year, $155 million deal with Baltimore, according to multiple reports citing ESPN’s Jeff Passan and other outlets. This is a splash signing that not only reshapes the O’s lineup but also signals an all-in push to compete in the loaded AL East. 

The contract — the numbers that matter

Reports indicate Alonso’s contract is a five-year pact worth $155 million (roughly $31M average annual value). That puts Alonso among the higher AAVs for first basemen in recent memory and gives Baltimore a middle-term commitment to a proven run producer who is still in his prime. Sportsnet and Newsweek both reported the deal shortly after Passan’s breaking item. 

What to note financially and structurally:

• Length & AAV: Five years, $155M (~$31M AAV) — a bridge/medium-term deal that gives Alonso security while preserving some team flexibility later. 
• Contract context: Alonso was one of the premier sluggers on the market after a standout 2025 campaign; this contract reflects a team that wants immediate offense without committing to an extremely long term. 

(If specific guarantees, signing bonuses, or opt-outs surface in later official releases, those details will further shape how teams and fans evaluate the move.)

Alonso’s 2025: the performance that earned the deal

Alonso closed out the 2025 season as one of the game’s most productive right-handed power hitters. His 2025 regular-season line (combining mainstream and advanced sources):

• Batting line (2025): .272 / .347 / .524 (.871 OPS) — 38 HR, 126 RBI, 41 doubles in 162 games. He finished among MLB leaders in RBI and well inside the top 10 in homers. 
• Traditional counting stats: 170 hits, 87 runs, 61 walks and 162 games played (a full season workload). 
• Advanced metrics: 2025 wOBA around .368 and an xwOBA higher (indicating continued quality of contact). Baseball Savant shows a Hard-Hit % near 54% and an average exit velocity in the low-90s — elite contact numbers for a power hitter. Those batted-ball profiles help explain the RBI and slugging totals. 

Put simply: Alonso delivered big-league power, durability (162 games played), and run production — the three traits teams pay for most on offense.

What Alonso brings to the Orioles lineup

Baltimore’s offense gets a clear upgrade in two major ways:

1. Middle-of-the-order thump and run production. Alonso is a classic RBI machine: elite HR/RBI totals and the ability to drive in runs with runners on base. In 2025 he ranked near the top of MLB in RBIs, and that kind of production immediately benefits lineup construction in Camden Yards’ hitter-friendly yard. 
2. Consistent presence & lineup protection. Alonso’s ability to play a full season and provide steady slugging gives the Orioles predictability in run creation. His right-handed power will pair with Baltimore’s existing core to create more favorable matchups and RBI opportunities. Even in the AL East — with tough pitching and elite bullpens — Alonso’s power profile is a matchup problem for many starters and relievers. 

Defense & positioning

Alonso’s primary position is first base. Defensive metrics have shown Alonso is not a Gold Glove defender, but first base is less defensive-demanding than premium positions; the net value here is driven overwhelmingly by his bat. Depending on roster construction, Baltimore could rotate Alonso with other corner players situationally, but the simplest and likeliest plan is daily first base duty to keep his bat in the lineup. (Any long-term defensive shift would depend on how the O’s retool their infield alignment in spring training.) 

How this fits into the Orioles’ roster & playoff window

The Orioles have been building a young, homegrown core and adding veterans to push them over the hump. Signing Alonso does a few immediate things:

• Signals win-now intent — a multi-year money commitment to a player in his prime tells the division rivals that Baltimore expects to contend immediately. 
• Lineup balance: Alonso adds high-probability power and RBI totals to a lineup that already includes contact hitters and table-setters; that mix tends to translate to more consistent run production across a season. 
• Payroll & flexibility: A five-year deal at $155M is substantial but not crippling; it keeps the Orioles competitive in short-term spending and preserves their ability to absorb other moves or re-sign extensions down the line. Exact luxury-tax implications depend on the rest of the payroll moves this offseason. 

From a roster-building standpoint, Alonso’s signing could push internal options into bench roles (platoon first basemen, DH time, or trades) and gives the front office a clearer approach for finishing construction before spring training.

Fantasy & betting implications

For fantasy players, Alonso is a late-breaking upgrade for any AL lineup that requires power and RBI. He should be rostered in most formats immediately — his 38 HR / 126 RBI 2025 season projects as a high floor for counting stats in 2026, assuming health and consistent playing time. Bettors should note the AL East pitching quality and how that might temper counting stats slightly versus a weaker division, but Baltimore’s park and lineup protection should still support solid power totals. 

The downside risks

No signing is without risk. Consider:

• Age & health: Alonso is entering his early 30s; while not old, power can decline, and long-term durability is never guaranteed.
• Defensive limitations: Alonso is primarily valued for offense; if his bat cools, his defensive contribution may not be enough to sustain value.
• Contract length exposure: A five-year deal could become a burden if production drops, though it’s a relatively moderate length compared to some decade-long extensions we’ve seen. 

Final take — immediate boost, meaningful gamble

This is a marquee move for Baltimore: immediate lineup impact with moderate long-term risk. Alonso’s 2025 season made him one of the most attractive free agents on the market — durable, powerful, and productive — and the Orioles are betting that profile helps them win now in a brutally competitive AL East. For fans, the move is exciting; for the front office, it’s a calculated step to tilt a playoff window in Baltimore’s favor.