Yonder Alonso hopes to remain with the Oakland Athletics and is open to forgoing free agency by signing an extension at midseason.

Alonso believes Oakland's young players could make them competitive in the near future.

"I think that there is a great chance that I stay here," Alonso said. "I really do mean that. The guys they have, the young core that they have, are all guys I can relate to. ... A lot of players here say, 'I want to play well here, do well and get out.' I actually want to play well, do well and stay here."

Alonso, 30, is hitting .302/.397/.630 in 219 plate appearances this season.