The Boston Red Sox remain in the running for Alex Bregman, but the All-Star’s market took an interesting indirect turn Thursday.
According to The Athletic, the Seattle Mariners re-signed infielder Jorge Polanco who will play third base for the American League West side.
Polanco isn’t a very flashy player, but the reported deal could affect the Astros’ plans. Houston reportedly viewed the All-Star as a “contingency” plan if it couldn’t sign Bregman. With Polanco out of the market, will general manager Dana Brown get more aggressive in trying to retain the Bregman?
The sides reportedly renewed their discussions after their talks “stalled.” The Astros’ six-year, $156 million is still on the table, but it’s unclear if they would budge on that contract. The only thing clear about Bregman’s contract demand is that he is seeking a long-term deal.
Boston reportedly is competing with the Astros, Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs for Bregman’s services. The Red Sox were viewed as the favorite to sign the 30-year-old. However, their standing might have changed after the Astros’ aggressive approach weeks before the start of spring training.
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It wouldn’t bode well for Boston if Houston decided to get even more aggressive after losing a backup option like Polanco. It will be something to monitor as Bregman continues to wait things out.
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