Ex-MLB GM urges Orioles fans not to worry about Pete Alonso being a bust

TL;DR

Ex-MLB GM Jim Bowden reassures Baltimore Orioles fans not to panic about Pete Alonso's slow start after signing a $155 million contract. He emphasizes that it's too early to label Alonso a bust.

Ex-MLB GM urges Orioles fans not to worry about Pete Alonso being a bust originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Baltimore Orioles made a massive move this past offseason, signing former New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso to a mammoth $155 million contract over five years.

After missing out on Kyle Schwarber, the Orioles pivoted to Alonso and got him at a $1 million more per-year deal than what Schwarber got. And so far, things haven't gone well for Alonso in Baltimore.

However, ex-general manager Jim Bowden for The Athletic urged Orioles fans not to stress too much about Alonso being a bust signing. It's still early, and Alonso's slow start is just that, a slow start, nothing more in Bowden's eyes.

Ex-MLB GM isn't worried about Pete Alonso

"Alonso is off to a slow start, and Orioles fans are already questioning the five-year, $155 million deal their team gave him," Bowden writes. "Don't worry O's fans, it's just a slow start."

While Alonso hasn't gotten off to the start he or the Orioles were hoping for, Bowden still believes the new Orioles slugger can reach 30 homers and 100 RBIs by the end of the season.

So far this season, Alonso is hitting just .190 with one home run (off Jacob deGrom), five RBIs, and a .581 OPS in 15 games played.

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The Orioles need Alonso to get things going, especially with the injuries that are piling up for the lineup this season in Baltimore.

Jackson Holliday is still out amid a hamate bone injury recovery, Adley Rutschman landed on the IL recently, while Ryan Mountcastle and Jordan Wetsburg are also banged up.

While Alonso's start to his Orioles tenure isn't going well, it's still too soon for Orioles fans to panic in Bowden's eyes.

It's been a little over two weeks, and 15 games into a 162-game season. Alonso has plenty of time to turn things around, and he could easily put up elite numbers by season's end.