ORLANDO – It wasn’t just talk.

And these weren't just another Winter Meetings for the Orioles.

The club is finalizing a five-year, $155 million contract with first baseman Pete Alonso, pending the results of a physical. A source has confirmed the agreement.

President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias sought a big bat and didn’t care about the position, in this case the crowd at first base. He also sought a clubhouse leader for a team relying so heavily on its young core.

Those boxes are checked.

Alonso, who turned 31 on Sunday, finished the 2025 season with a .272/.347/.524 line, 41 doubles, 38 home runs and 126 RBIs. His durability also appeals to a club riddled with injuries the past few seasons. He’s played in 162 games each of the past two seasons after 161 in 2019, 152 in 2021, 160 in 2022 and 154 in 2023.

This is easily the largest deal signed by a player in Mike Elias’ tenure in the front office. It also confirms that the ownership group’s deep pockets weren’t just a fashion statement.

The contract doesn't come with an opt-out clause, per a source, which differs from past agreements with outfielder Tyler O’Neill (three years, $49.5 million) and closer Ryan Helsley (two years, $28 million). 

The Orioles won’t confirm the agreement until Alonso passes his physical and signs his contract. He met with Elias after driving to the Winter Meetings from his Tampa home.

Alonso re-signed with the Mets last offseason, but his two-year, $54 million contract included an opt-out that he exercised. They reportedly were reluctant to go beyond three years and never made an offer.

With Alonso on board, Elias can more easily focus on pitching. He’s in the running for one of the top starters in free agency and also has the tools to work out a trade.

Ryan Mountcastle was tendered a contract but could be on the block with his salary expected to approach $8 million. Coby Mayo also could be a trade chip, with the club perhaps no longer viewing him as untouchable.

The Alonso news comes one day after the Orioles tried to lure Kyle Schwarber with a five-year, $150 million offer. Schwarber took the same deal to remain with the Phillies.

Elias made an aggressive pivot to Alonso, a five-time All-Star who’s hit 264 home runs in 1,008 career games.

ESPN first reported the agreement and terms of Alonso’s contract, which provides the highest annual average value for a first baseman.

Note: The Orioles designated catcher Drew Romo for assignment after claiming the switch-hitting catcher on waivers last week. But this wasn’t about Alonso. They claimed left-hander Josh Walker on waivers from the Braves.

The Orioles selected Walker on waivers from the Phillies in August and lost him to the Braves three months later.

Meanwhile, the Rule 5 Draft was even more anticlimactic after the Alonso news.

A full 40-man roster prevented the Orioles from making a selection in the major league phase. They passed in the Triple-A phase.

The Orioles passed in the major league portion the two previous years, leaving reliever Andrew Politi in 2022 as their last selection. They returned him to the Red Sox late in camp after he made a spirited run to crack the Opening Day roster.

The Orioles lost right-hander Carter Baumler, selected by the Pirates in the major league portion. Baumler was a fifth-round draft pick in 2020 and didn’t pitch above Double-A.

The Mets took right-hander Justin Armbruester in the Triple-A phase.