There’s still one major prize waiting in Major League Baseball free agency, and the Toronto Blue Jays seemingly have as good a chance as anyone to claim it.
The Blue Jays have spent the winter looking for more stars to pair with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in an effort to convince the superstar first baseman to stay when he hits free agency. And the last star remaining on the market is two-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.
Bregman is holding out for at least a six-year deal, and according to multiple reports, only the Blue Jays and his old team, the Houston Astros, have been willing to cross that threshold so far. The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers are his other known suitors.
If there’s anything holding the Blue Jays back in the Bregman chase, it’s their uncertain future. If Guerrero were already locked into an extension, or perhaps if Toronto had one of baseball’s top farm systems, a six-year offer may have already sealed the deal.
On Friday, The Athletic’s Chad Jennings predicted that the Blue Jays would win the bidding war for Bregman, thanks to their motivation to make a splash.
“This is the splash the Blue Jays have been trying to make for a couple of years,” Jennings wrote.
“Bregman is a better fit — both short-term and long-term — than (Pete) Alonso would have been, and he would give the Blue Jays one of the best infields in all of baseball alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Andrés Giménez. Bregman is basically the biggest move any team could make, and the Blue Jays are as motivated as anyone to make it.”
Bregman won his first career Gold Glove last season, hitting 26 home runs and compiling a .768 OPS even after a long slump to begin the year. He’s entering his age-31 season, so there’s definite risk to signing him long-term, but the Blue Jays have to be comfortable assuming risks at this point.
Earlier this winter, Jennings’ coworker at The Athletic, Tim Britton, projected Bregman for a seven-year, $189 million deal. It seemed like a long shot at times that he would reach that threshold, but if the Blue Jays and Astros both have six-year offers out there, the first team to offer seven might claim victory.
Nothing is final until Bregman signs on the dotted line, but Jennings’ prediction has to at least give Blue Jays fans a bit of confidence as spring training approaches.
More MLB: Cubs predicted to trade $35 million Gold Glover if Alex Bregman comes to Chicago
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