Cubs Rumors: Pete Alonso speculation confirms one truth about offseason

Credit to Jon Heyman for keeping the idea of the Chicago Cubs finally landing slugging first baseman Pete Alonso alive.

Alonso has been intertwined in Cubs' rumors for much of the past two years. Dating back to the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline, the Cubs have had a flirtation with Alonso. The timing never appeared right as the Mets' run to the National League Championship Series last season meant Alonso was not on the trade market at the deadline last season. Even if he had been, the emergence of Michael Busch seemingly put an end to the idea of Alonso being a Cubs' target moving forward.

That is, unless, you follow Heyman. Heyman has pushed the Cubs as a suitor for Alonso this offseason with the latest arriving in his Friday update for the New York Post.

"After a 48-hour frenzy of 1B signings/trades (Paul Goldschmidt, Carlos Santana, Josh Naylor, Nathaniel Lowe), potential options include the Giants, Mariners, Rangers, and Angels, and possibly the Cubs or Red Sox if they open up 1B via trade," Heyman wrote.

Heyman seems to be lacking the context of the Cubs' offseason, the first being that the Cubs do not have an opening at first base. In the aftermath of the Kyle Tucker trade, the Cubs have made it clear they value Busch moving forward as their starting first baseman. Tucker is the big bat of the Cubs' offseason and even if the team were to move Nico Hoerner in a trade for starting pitching, it would seem more likely that Busch remains at first base with Matt Shaw taking over second base.

Latest Pete Alonso rumor feels like a leverage play against the New York Mets.

When it comes to Heyman, it needs to be emphasized that he often shapes his reporting through the lens of the Mets or Yankees. After all, earlier this week, Heyman all but did Alonso's bidding in stressing why the Mets need to bring him back. Given that context and the Cubs' active offseason re-igniting agents' ability to use them as a leverage ploy, one would be fair to suggest that Heyman may be doing Scott Boras a favor in continuing to suggest the Cubs are an option for Alonso.