The Polar Bear is heading to Birdland. On Wednesday, December 6, 2025, the Baltimore Orioles landed Pete Alonso on a five-year, $155 million contract, a franchise-shifting move that puts power in the middle of their lineup and a steady glove at first base. It is a bold swing from a club that has been careful with long deals since its rebuild began under general manager Mike Elias in 2018.

This is not just a splash. It is a signal. The Orioles believe their window is open right now, and they believe Alonso is the right bat, in the right park, at the right time.

Why Baltimore moved for Pete Alonso now

Baltimore has wanted game-changing power without sacrificing defense. Alonso offers both. He is the Mets’ all-time home run leader and still very much the slugger who earned the “Polar Bear” nickname. In 2025, he hit 38 home runs. In Baltimore, that number could climb; scouts and analysts note that his swing path and the gaps at Camden Yards suit him well, with a fair projection of about 45 homers.

The Orioles also valued what Alonso has become, not just what he was. His approach has sharpened, he drives the ball to right-center more often, and he pairs power with cleaner, repeatable mechanics. That is not hype. It is measured.

“The Polar Bear in orange and black feels like 40-plus homers every year.”

A $155M contract in Orioles history and MLB market

At five years and $155 million, this is the second-largest financial commitment in Orioles history. Only Chris Davis’s seven-year, $161 million deal in 2016 sits above it. That history matters. Baltimore has been slow to push chips in since starting over in 2018, but this contract says the calculus has changed.

It also fits the current market. Alonso’s deal edges out other recent power-bat contracts — for example, Kyle Schwarber’s five-year, $150 million deal — and reflects a premium for elite, reliable home run production. As one line of thinking in league circles put it, “The Mets were never getting him on a short-term deal. Simply put, Alonso… was worth more to the Orioles than his organization of the past nine years.”

That is the market speaking. Baltimore listened, and paid.

“Pricey? Sure. But this is the bat you pay for when your window is open.”

Camden Yards fit: right-center power and 45-homer upside

Ballpark context matters. Camden Yards can be friendly to hitters who drive the ball with carry to the right-center gap, and that is exactly where Alonso has grown. The projection of roughly 45 home runs is not just guesswork; it is tied to how his batted-ball profile maps onto Baltimore’s field, especially those lanes into the power alleys.

Pair that with his strong defense at first base, and the Orioles get wins both at the plate and in the field. And if age or roster crunch pushes him to designated hitter later on, the bat still plays. As one evaluator framed it, “Alonso is still in there… If he keeps up that kind of hitting or anything like it, then the likely medium-term future of a move to DH is a lot more palatable.”

“If the stroke is cleaner and the park fits, Camden will do the rest.”

Numbers behind the swing: 75.3 mph and a shorter stroke

Alonso’s power stayed real in 2025. His swing velocity held at 75.3 mph, and he shortened his stroke from 7.3 feet in 2023 to 7.1 feet in 2025. Those are small changes that lead to big results: getting to high velocity a tick sooner, keeping the barrel in the zone longer, and squaring up more pitches he used to miss or foul off.

That shorter path pairs well with his goal to hit through the middle and toward right-center. In Baltimore, those well-struck balls do damage. This is the kind of fine-tuning that turns a 38-homer season into a 40-to-45 homer season without asking a player to swing harder.

What this means for the Mets after the core breaks up

For the Mets, this is the end of an era. Alonso was a pillar alongside Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto. New York chose not to chase a top-market match for its franchise home run leader, letting Baltimore set the pace and the price. It is a clear choice about roster direction and payroll balance.

The fallout will be felt in Queens. The Mets lose a middle-of-the-order anchor and a fan favorite. The club will need to spread power and RBI chances across the lineup and find a new identity without the Polar Bear.

How the Orioles lineup and defense change on Day 1

For Baltimore, the picture is simpler: put Alonso in the heart of the order and let his presence lift every at-bat around him. His glove at first base brings steadiness, and his bat lengthens the lineup. Pitchers can no longer nibble; they must pick their spots, which helps everyone behind him.

There is also a clean path for his role over the life of the deal. He starts at first base now. If a shift to DH is needed later, the contract still makes sense because the power and on-contact damage are the main reasons he is here. That is why the Orioles stepped up.

Bottom line

The Orioles did not just add a slugger; they added a statement. Five years and $155 million is a heavy lift for a team that has spent cautiously since 2018, but the fit is strong, the timing is right, and the upside is clear. Alonso brings elite power, better mechanics, and a game built for Camden Yards.

Baltimore knew the cost, and paid it anyway. Now comes the fun part: seeing the Polar Bear turn gaps into fireworks and a contender into a real threat.