Just out of curiosity where would Bregman play if he came back to the Stros? 3rd and move Peredes to outfield?
LOL Bregs, "Hey guys. I made a mistake and actually do want to come back to the Astros. That 6 year deal is nice for me and my family." Brown, "That sounds great. Let us ask our current thirdbase man how he feels and we'll get back to you. Enjoy the holiday."
I personally wouldn't do this out of respect to Altuve and Alvarez needs to stay healthy but Alvarez full time LF, Altuve DH, Bregman 2B. Bregman did say he's willing to change positions if teams that already had a 3B would be interested. *I wonder if Altuve would be fine as DH if it meant Bregman coming back. He was vocal on wanting him back.
Yes, Paredes would play mostly LF. If Breggy came back it would look like this: C: Diaz 70%, Caratini 30% 1B: Walker 90%, Paredes 10% 2B: Altuve 80%, Dubon 20% SS: Pena 90%, Dubon 20% 3B: Bregman 90%, Paredes 10% RF: Trammell/Dezenzo 70%, McCormick 30% CF: McCormick 60%, Meyers 40% LF: Paredes 70%, Dubon 20%, Alvarez 10% DH: Alvarez 80%, Altuve 10%, Diaz 10% The 13th man would not have a meaningful role; either Singleton could be used strictly as a pinch hitter, someone like Leon could be used as a pinch runner/extra glove, or someone like Hummel or Salazar could be used as a 3rd/emergency C.
Bregman wouldn't come back for anything less than the 6/156 offered previously and the Astros aren't giving him anything more than the 6/156 offered previously.
1 year at 30 with a player option for a second is the type of contract that a player who needs to get another shot at free agency after overplaying his hand should be looking at. Astros should be laser focused on improving their outfield at this point and bringing back Bregs does not do that.
Bregman should be considering an immediate change of representation to avoid a disastrous first free agent off season.
Caratini and Pressly would clear $21M off the books. From what I’ve seen Houston is <$5M below the CBT threshold so they’d be limited to a ~$25M AAV if they are intent on staying below the threshold. My guess is that if Houston signs Bregman it’ll be an executive decision by Crane and a commitment to going over the tax and possibly even into the 2nd and 3rd tier. The only other realistic alternative is to pair signing Bregman with trading Framber. Trading Framber and Pressly clears enough payroll to sign Bregman and possibly have a little money left to go get a cheap SP or platoon OF.
Boras is a great agent, but he's made some mistakes in recent years misjudging markets. Doesn't mean it won't work out for Bregman, but very possible he ends up taking a short term contract and trying to re-enter the market, like his clients settled for last season.
It would be intriguing to trade Framber and receive a RF upgrade. Then Chas can play CF and Paredes LF. 1B Walker 2B Altuve 3B Bregman SS Pena RF Framber trade CF McCormick LF Paredes DH Alvarez C Diaz Now that’s a championship lineup. If you receive another pitcher similar to Wesneski, and perhaps bring back JV on a cheap deal I like our staff as well.
If you think you can win the division and make a splash in the playoffs, you don't trade away your best pitcher regardless of the return.
I can't believe we still have people talking about a hypothetical Bregman return. He's gone. Let it go.
If Crane and Brown think Bregman was good value at 156 million, they will not let a few million get in the way of signing him. We can reset the luxury tax next season when Abreu, Pressley and Montero come off the books.
They traded for 2 3B and then signed a 1B while also making it clear they want to avoid the luxury tax so they aren't in it for the 2nd straight season. He's not coming back.
I disagree with this as a blanket statement. Hold on to that pitcher if: You think you can resign/extend him. Your overall depth of talent in the rotation is lacking. His trade value is simply lacking. You have a deep and/or talented farm system so any controllable players/ prospects that come back are not extremely important. You trade him if: You have a deep stable of potential starters. You have no chance to extend him or resign him. Your farm system lacks talent and high ceiling talent can make a big difference. Offers for him simply can't be ignored.
