Chicago Cubs target named ‘most overrated’ free agent this offseason

The Chicago Cubs have one goal this winter: sign as many good players as possible in free agency. That’s certainly easier said than done, as the Cubs will have challenges landing players and evaluating talent.

Some players on the market are almost guaranteed to succeed with their next team. A few elite players on the market should find success wherever they end up, which makes Chicago’s task a little easier if they were to land one of them.

Could be among them Pete Alonso. Outside of maybe two or three hitters, there hasn’t been a better power hitter in Major League Baseball since his debut.

From an offensive standpoint, he would be an excellent addition to the Cubs, but… Matt Higgins of Sportsnaut urged teams to be careful with the slugger.

Higgins called Alonso one of the seven “most overrated” free agents on the market this winter.

“The slugger is a good player, but will he be worth $200 million in seven years when he’s about to turn 30? That’s the question clubs must ask themselves, including the New York Mets, as they overhaul their roster want to put together for 2025. His numbers have dropped from .869 to .788 over the past three years, his strikeouts have increased from 128 to 172, and he hit 34 home runs this season, compared to 46 last year at first base, which indicates a move to a full-time design hitter near the end of his contract, with his numbers already dwindling, teams should expect a rapidly aging veteran.”

Given his potential contract, it is not the craziest suggestion to say that Alonso may be a bit overrated. However, from a production perspective, that label would be unfair.

Not only has he hit 226 home runs in six years and at least 34 in every season outside of the COVID campaign, but Alonso has also played at least 152 games in every full season he has played.

That is extremely valuable because he has given his team the opportunity to win every game with him in the lineup.

His performance in 2024 was slightly lower compared to previous campaigns. He slashed .240/.329/.459 with a 123 OPS+ and 34 home runs.

Alonso’s 34 home runs were the fewest he hit in a regular season. Additionally, his 123 OPS+ reached a career low in a full year.