With February approaching, Alex Bregman remains a free agent despite reportedly having a six-year, $156 million offer from the Houston Astros. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, another team has also extended a six-year contract with an opt-out after the first year, though it may not be a top choice for Bregman. Teams linked to him include the Cubs, Tigers, Red Sox, and possibly the Blue Jays, as suggested by Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Bregman’s free agency journey has been closely followed this offseason. While a return to the Astros seemed likely initially, negotiations hit a roadblock due to financial disagreements. Bregman reportedly seeks a contract closer to $200 million, making Houston’s $156 million offer fall short of his expectations. His previous deal with the Astros was worth $100 million over five years, with backloaded payments in the final seasons. The perceived salary drop in the new offer has contributed to the standoff.
As a result, Houston has pursued other options, trading for Isaac Paredes and signing Christian Walker. This has seemingly crowded their infield with Jeremy Peña and Jose Altuve also in the mix. However, reports indicate the Astros could still accommodate Bregman by shifting Paredes to second base and Altuve to left field.
Bregman’s potential landing spots all have positional challenges. The Red Sox already have Rafael Devers at third and young talent developing for second base. The Tigers and Cubs also have top prospects at third, while the Blue Jays have several infield options. Financially, the Tigers’ payroll could stretch beyond recent years, while the Cubs and Red Sox have room under the competitive balance tax (CBT) threshold. The Blue Jays, however, are already well above it.
Signing Bregman would also come with draft pick penalties for teams other than Houston since he declined a qualifying offer. The Cubs would face the steepest penalties, while the Red Sox, Jays, and Tigers would have lesser forfeitures.
Despite the obstacles, Bregman continues to draw interest. Typically, free agents this late in the offseason consider shorter-term deals, as seen last year with Blake Snell and Cody Bellinger. However, Bregman appears focused on securing a long-term contract. The Astros have reportedly kept their offer on the table despite exploring alternatives like Jorge Polanco, who has since re-signed with Seattle.
With spring training nearing, Bregman’s decision could have ripple effects on other free agents, including Pete Alonso and pitchers still available.
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