Boras, Orioles in ‘regular communication’ on free agents

ORLANDO—The Orioles have been linked with several clients of baseball’s most powerful agent, Scott Boras. First baseman Pete Alonso, who lives in Tampa, about two hours away, is reported to have scheduled a meeting with the Orioles.

The team is also reported to have interest in starting pitchers Zac Gallen, who last pitched for Arizona, Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, and left-hander Ranger Suárez, who pitched for Philadelphia.

On Monday, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said the team has been aggressive in pursuit of starting pitchers.

“We’ve offered them a lot, and we’re absolutely willing to do that,” he said regarding a long-term deal for a starter.

In his annual media scrum in the lobby of the headquarters hotel, Boras wouldn’t say precisely if the Orioles had shown more interest in his clients this year.

“You gauge that by the notice of how they and their ownership respond to the offer exchanges that occur,” Boras said. “That varies in every market, and I know that Mike has every intention of adding players to his team. He’s been in regular communication with us on that.”

One player the Orioles had been linked to, slugger Kyle Schwarber, who’s not a Boras client, returned to the Philadelphia Phillies on a reported five-year, $150 million deal.

Alonso, who’s hit 264 home runs for the New York Mets in the last seven years, is also attractive to the Orioles.

Last year Alonso found a cool free-agent market and returned to the Mets but declined to invoke his $24 million player option for 2026 after hitting 38 home runs and driving in 126 runs with an .871 OPS and .272 batting average.

“All the teams we’ve met with, not one doesn’t want Pete to play first base,” Boras said.

Boras also said there’s nothing imminent on possible extensions with his clients, Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg.

“That’s really something we talk during the arbitration period or during spring training,” he said. “Mike and I have a lot of conversations on the subject, but nothing immediate.

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