Yankees talk to Scott Boras about Pete Alonso with first base a big question mark

SAN ANTONIO — The Yankees need a first baseman, and a prominent one from across town is without a contract. In the aftermath of the decision to decline Anthony Rizzo’s $17 million option for next season — the Yankees will instead pay Rizzo a $6 million buyout — general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday that he’s spoken to agent Scott Boras about Pete Alonso. “There’s a lot of high-quality players in this marketplace,” Cashman said at the GM meetings.“Certainly Pete did an amazing job with the Mets.” Boras represents many of the top players on this year’s free-agent market, with Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell at the top of the list.

Cashman said he had a brief conversation with Boras about “a lot” of his clients. Alonso received a qualifying offer from the Mets on Monday worth $21.05 million for next season that he’s expected to decline as he searches for a long-term deal. Cashman said the organization likes Ben Rice’s bat — the rookie hit seven homers in 152 at-bats — but is still evaluating whether he profiles as a first baseman.Rice, primarily a catcher, started 41 games at first base last season. “We are really excited about the offensive profile,” Cashman said.

“He’s a possibility, but we’re going to evaluate what presents itself in the marketplace as well as trades and internal options.”...