The Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as three suitors with a “very, very real” possibility of landing Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman, a league source told KPRC 2.
Just before Christmas, the Houston Astros introduced new first baseman Christian Walker, who will have first base locked up for the next three years. Walker’s arrival signaled a move to third base for newly acquired Isaac Paredes and also signaled the end of the Alex Bregman era.
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“Negotiations stalled,” said Astros general manager Dana Brown. “We had to pursue other options; we couldn’t just sit there.”
The Astros repeatedly called re-signing Bregman their top priority this offseason, but had to pivot after it was clear Bregman would not accept Houston’s offer of six years, $156 million.
With the door shut on a reunion in Houston, the Tigers, Red Sox and Blue Jays have emerged as serious possibilities, with the New York Mets and New York Yankees showing interest in Bregman throughout the offseason, as well.
There remain various questions with the fits of each team.
The Red Sox already have a long-term third baseman in Rafael Devers, who will not move off the position, his agent Nelson Montes de Oca of Klutch Baseball reiterated at Winter Meetings. Bregman would likely have to play another position in Boston.
Sources within the industry question if the Tigers are willing to give out a long-term contract like the one Bregman would want, given the team’s current low payroll and the result of the last long-term contract they gave out: a six-year, $140 million deal with Javier Baez, that has so far been a massive bust. Baez has hit to a 71 OPS+, 29 percent below league average in his three years with the Tigers. Baez was a 104 OPS+ hitter prior to his arrival in Detroit.
The Tigers have given out two one-year, $15 million deals this offseason to starting pitcher Alex Cobb and second baseman Gleyber Torres.
Toronto would be able to financially handle the kind of contract Bregman is said to desire but have yet to land a big free agent this offseason, despite interest in players like Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes.
NOTES
Both the Tigers and Blue Jays also have interest in outfielder Anthony Santander, with the Blue Jays having an offer in, a league source tells KPRC 2. The Los Angeles Angels are another team with interest in Santander. While Santander is also a fit with the Houston Astros, who could use a high-impact outfielder after trading away Kyle Tucker, a league source tells KPRC 2 that it is unlikely Santander will land in Houston. The switch-hitting outfielder is seeking the type of long-term deal that would put the Astros well into the competitive balance tax for the second consecutive season, something that is very unlikely to be palatable to the Astros.
The Astros signed Spring native and former Klein High school standout Jose Gonzalez to a minor league deal, according to Gonzalez on Instagram. Gonzalez played college baseball at Texas State. Gonzalez played last season in the Pioneer league and dominated to the tune of a 1.113 OPS with 19 home runs in 88 games.
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