Chapter 1: What makes Pete Alonso's signing with the Orioles significant?
Today is one of the most exciting days in the history of the franchise, as we introduce the newest member of the Baltimore Orioles, Pete Alonso. We'd like to welcome everyone watching live on Orioles social channels, Masson, WBL Radio, and remind everyone attending in person that this is being carried live.
Pete, the team is so excited to welcome you, your wife Haley, your son, your parents Pete and Michelle to our family. Today is not just a momentous day for the organization, but for the great fans in Baltimore and across the country.
Opening day is a holiday in this town, and we can't wait for you and your family to experience your first game as an Oriole at Camden Yards on Thursday, March 26th, and at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Friday, February 20th.
Joining us on the dais today include Pete's attorney and president of the Boris Corporation, Scott Boris, Orioles control owner, David Rubenstein, Orioles president of baseball operations and general manager, Mike Elias, and Orioles first baseman, Pete Alonso. Before we get into today's program, we'd like to acknowledge some guests who are here with us today.
First, members of the Boris Corporation, Bill Glovna and Ori Carey. Thank you both for being here. Orioles team president, Katie Griggs, Orioles manager, Craig Albernaz, and his wife, Genevieve, and Orioles bench coach, Donnie Ecker. Thank you all for being here. We'd also like to welcome our wonderful partners at T. Rowe Price. Thank you all for being here.
Finally, we'd like to recognize the media. We want to thank all of you for your coverage to help build the excitement for this special day for the organization. At this time, I'll turn it over to Orioles President of Baseball Operations and General Manager, Mike Elias. Thank you, Nate. Hello, everybody. Welcome and thank you for coming.
As Nate said, this is a very momentous and historic day for the Orioles franchise, but also for us this offseason as we build the team of 2026 and beyond.
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Chapter 2: How did Pete Alonso feel about joining the Orioles?
Pete Alonso has been one of the elite sluggers in all of Major League Baseball really since debuting in 2019. I think he hit 56 home runs in his debut and he's since then been one of the most consistent, prolific and durable players in our sport since that time. And the consistency
that he's demonstrated, the passion to play, the care that he has for his teammates and for wins and losses is something that's really hard to come by. So when we had an opportunity engage with him and pursue him this winter. As we were looking for a guy to galvanize the young talent that we have in our batting lineup and also in our clubhouse, he was right at the top of the list.
So I'm extremely pleased that we're welcoming him to the organization today. I think it's going to be a tremendous era. and he's gonna have some very magical moments here at the ballpark and I think when you look at Pete in the middle of the lineup that we have, we have arguably the best batting lineup in Major League Baseball right now and our plan the rest of this offseason is to continue to
augment the team so that these guys can make another run at the American League East and we can get back to where we belong so just a tremendous day in addition for us really excited to watch him play and see him in Sarasota and ingratiate him to the organization over the next couple weeks as we as we all get plugged in together but I know
He's going to be really excited to join this community here. He's somebody that's demonstrated a lot of passion towards getting out in the community, wherever he's been and wherever he's played. And he and his wife are very much looking forward to calling Baltimore home going forward.
So without further ado, I'd like to present Pete with his first Orioles jersey and cap, and then we can open up to questions. All right. Great job. Hell yeah. At this time, we will open it up to questions. If you have a question, we have mics on both sides of the room. We would please ask that you please state your full name and affiliation so that Pete can get to know our local media.
Please make sure it's clear which member of the, up here on the dais, who your question is for.
Rocco Bocca with Mass in Sports.
Pete, I know the Orioles said they had quite a presentation for you in Orlando. What were some of the key points that they hit on that convinced you this is where you want to be? I mean, to be honest, it was, I mean, I was pressed with both just like the sheer detail and like just pretty much laying everything out there, whether it be from not just like the talent they had, but they did a ton of
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Chapter 3: What are Pete Alonso's thoughts on the Orioles' lineup?
How important is it for you to play every day? You know, you've played every game for the last two years. And do you think that that's a way of showing some of the young players here how it's done?
Yeah, for sure. I mean, that's a level of professionalism that I take pride in. But ultimately, that comes from just loving the game. I love I love playing the game and playing, playing and competing at the major league level is really just a blessing. And I take pride in that anytime I I'm able to walk, walk through the tunnel, strap it on and go play. That's it's a
It's such an amazing opportunity, and I don't take that opportunity lightly. And whether it be me preparing or me doing recovery post-game, I just have a tremendous love for this game. And as long as I'm healthy or even if things don't feel good, it doesn't matter because any day that ends in Y, I'm ready to go out there as long as I'm able to.
Hey, Pete, this is Andy Kuska from the Baltimore Banner. This question is actually for you, Mike. This is obviously a flexing of the financial muscle that we haven't seen in some time in Baltimore. What made now the right moment for a deal like this? And how much is ownership involvement in having something like this? I think there's a lot of factors that led to this being the right moment.
First of all, it's the right player. First and foremost, as I said, we're really looking to take our lineup over the top with a middle of the other bat and an impact hitter and a right-handed one, the boot, which is very rare right now to have his kind of power and production and consistency from the right side of the plate in this game.
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Chapter 4: How does Pete plan to contribute to the Orioles' success?
It's a pretty special commodity.
But also, we have the talent base, as evidenced by the way this team has played over the last four years, and we've got a tremendous core to build around, but we finally have so many pieces in place from the ownership group on down to grow this franchise, invest in players, but also facilities, the business part of our operation, the ballpark, everything that we're doing. We have...
David and the rest of the group to thank. And I think we've got just a whole new era in front of us. And signing Pete is a big part of that, but also a big symbol of where we think we're going. So a lot to look forward to. And the 2026 team and season is just a small part of that.
Jerry Coleman with The Bay Online and the Be More Baseball podcast for Mike and for Pete. Mike, first, just to follow up on what you just said, a new era. Does that mean more spending, pursuing free agents, following up on pitching? And Pete, my question for you is, what's your familiarity with Baltimore and the history of the Orioles? You certainly set a legacy up in New York.
So just wondering about what you know about this organization, or are you just learning on the fly?
Well, let me talk about that for one moment. I'm older than everybody in this room, I think, so I have a memory that probably none of you probably have. When I was in high school in Baltimore in 1966, the Orioles brought onto the team a young 30-year-old player, was gonna meld with the young players that the team already had, like Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson.
And that player's name was Frank Robinson. And the result was we won a World Series that year.
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Chapter 5: What was the Orioles' strategy in pursuing Pete Alonso?
And we beat a team called the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were thought to be unbeatable. And Frank Robinson's number when he played in Cincinnati was 20. Pete Alonzo's number at the New York was 20.
Now because our 20 is retired here, he's agreed to play with 25, but the fact that both of them had the number 20, both of them in their early 30s, both of them are great power hitters, and both of them are people that really can work with younger players, makes us think we've got a great future ahead of us.
So I want to thank Pete for doing this, thank Scott for helping to make it possible, thank Mike for working on it, And, you know, the best days are ahead of us. So we're very, very happy. The ownership group could not be more pleased with this. And, you know, we'll do whatever else we need to do to make sure this team can win a championship.
And we're very optimistic that Pete's addition is going to be as helpful to us as Frank Robinson's was 1966.
That's really high praise. I appreciate that. And again, I also want to thank you as well, Mr. Rubenstein, for bringing me on, trusting me with the development of the young guys and not just being a leader, but... winning games and performing. So I appreciate that. And I guess to answer your question for me, like I I've always loved coming here. It's a beautiful park.
I mean, I love playing here to my extent. I just know kind of like the waterfront where we stayed and a couple of the restaurants around town and here in downtown.
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Chapter 6: How does Pete Alonso view the Orioles' current talent pool?
But every time that we've, we've come here and I've played at Camden, I've really enjoyed myself. It's, it's a phenomenal baseball environment and it's a, tremendously gorgeous park. I love playing here and getting involved in the community and kind of like immersing not just myself, but my wife, my son and our extended family.
When we're here, this is going to be home, and for us, we're incredibly grateful, and we're going to really take pride in calling Baltimore home. This city and this team, they believe in us, and we want to do right and really just justify and really do that by immersing ourselves, giving back. to the community, and at the end of the day, winning ball games between the lines.
And also, I want to give a huge shout out to my wife, Haley, and our boy, Teddy. So guys, love you. They're at home, obviously, with the quick turnaround and the stuff like that. But guys, I love you so much, and I can't wait to see you guys.
Pete Gilbert with WBAL-TV. For this purposes, I'll be repeat, just be Pete. When you think about playoff success, and you obviously have had plenty of it, what are some of the keys to that?
And with a young team here that hasn't, when they did get to the playoffs, they did not perform at their best.
What are some of the tangible things that you maybe could try and help them with to get over that hump? I mean, again, like every guy is kind of case by case in how they mentally approach the game. But the playoffs, for me, it's such an addicting feeling.
And playing that high leverage in the brightest lights, that's where, for me, that's the whole reason why you go through the spring training and the 162-game marathon for those short, tiny little moments at the – in the highest leverage of situations, because that's really what this is all for. This is all to get to October and really just win games.
And how I'm going to help is share my experience and pretty much share whatever has helped me kind of step and rise into the occasion. And yeah, I mean, I want to be an open book, especially not just... pretty much to everyone in the clubhouse. And for me, I take pride in that. Not only do I love performing, but ultimately I love forging great relationships and being a great teammate.
And for me, I want to be able to help however I can, whether it be performing or kind of like helping whoever that needs it. I'm all in.
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Chapter 7: What challenges does Pete anticipate in the AL East?
taking that on with a full understanding of things. And I feel like as time goes on, the more information I have in this new way, I feel like I'm really going to extract even better seasons from my skills. Nick Testoni, WBL Radio. Right here. This is for you, Pete. I think it was well documented that you really loved being a New York Met.
Was there a conversation or maybe something in negotiations that you started to really see yourself as a Baltimore Oriole? Yeah, I mean, for sure. I think as, like, the free agent process, like, once you... I mean, once once that kind of starts, you really kind of don't know what's going to happen. It's kind of like this weird baseball limbo.
But then as you start to sit down and really kind of think about things, you kind of have some time to really reflect. But then honestly, like as the offseason progressed and. Realistically, I mean, as we got further along, this partnership has, for me, it just, it was just head and shoulders above everybody else.
Like this park, this city, this team, this organization, everything combined, it just, everything just clicked. It just, and for me, I think that was absolutely, it was the perfect fit for, not just as a player, but as a, for, for family life too.
I mean, this is, I mean, there's, I could go up and down a laundry list of things where it's like, there's just so many boxes, like every single box this place checks. And for us, we're just so pleased. And for, for this organization to see, see me, um, not just in the now, but in the future, I mean, such a, it's such a blessing and I, I can't wait to play. Can't wait to perform.
I can't wait to win games.
from the Baltimore Banner here. This is for you and Scott. From the player side, the representative side, this is the first deal of this kind that the Orioles have signed in a very long time.
How much does that factor into your thinking about their commitment and their ability to win in the way you want to, given you are the first person to sign like this? Do you want to go first, or do you want me to? Sure.
First of all, David, it's a privilege to bat number two in your age lineup, because I'm sure that's where I hit in that. So I'm glad you bring that up.
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Chapter 8: What legacy does Pete Alonso hope to build with the Orioles?
We're up late at night. We're at the winter meetings. We're doing it.
And I get to tell Pete about the want, how they want this man to play for them, how important it is, what they do, how they do it.
You can hear the tone. You understand what it means to acquire someone like this. And I get the opportunity to share it with Pete because there's nothing more important when you achieve something to have this happen for the first time in a career because it doesn't happen for many. To have a moment where your greatness is acknowledged, truly acknowledged.
both in the game, by the players you play with, and everyone. And I appreciate, Mike and David, you doing that. And in answer to your question, other than that, it's probably not much of a big deal. You know what I mean?
But the idea of it is that Pete comes here, and we looked at the ballpark. We looked analytically. We looked at all the data. And boy, was this a fit.
And certainly Mike knew that before he made these calls. But the idea of it is that what it does for a lot of people that I care about, I'm just so excited.
And I thank you both for that.
Let me just add that when Mike Arrigetti and I led the effort to buy the Orioles, we got a lot of favorable emails from friends and so forth, but did not get as many favorable emails as I got from this particular contract signing. I've gotten hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of emails from people telling me how great this is. I mean, it is great, but I can't...
exaggerate how much the excitement is in Baltimore for this. Everybody, people I didn't even remember from sixth grade are sending me emails saying, hey, great thing, when can I get some tickets? So I'm really happy for Baltimore, really happy for Pete and his family, and I think it's gonna be a great season for the Orioles, and the best days are surely ahead of us.
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