A lot of words to say absolutely nothing. Thanks Pissan. https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/st...g-intel-rumors-updates-passan-bregman-arenado 1) Where will Alex Bregman go? He's certainly not lacking suitors. Among the teams that have shown -- and continue to show -- interest in the 30-year-old third baseman are the Tigers, Astros, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Cubs. Before we assess the seriousness of their pursuits of Bregman, though, some necessary context. Signing a free agent like Bregman, who has sought a deal of at least six years, is not just about what he does in 2025. Free agency often factors in future classes of available players -- and the next two winters offer few infielders who have posted more than 4.0 wins above replacement at least once in the past five years. Next year, the players who reach that bar are shortstop Bo Bichette, second baseman Luis Arraez, infielder Ha-Seong Kim and third baseman Eugenio Suarez. In the winter of 2026-27, it's second baseman Brandon Lowe, second baseman Nico Hoerner, second baseman Jonathan India and shortstop J.P. Crawford. None has done it each of the past three seasons, like Bregman. Only Bichette and perhaps Philadelphia third baseman Alec Bohm have the potential to. The paucity of infield talent available for dollars -- and not the bevy of prospects it typically takes to land such a player via trade -- could cajole a team into ending the tap dancing around Bregman's free agency. Now, it's worth noting most of the teams pursuing Bregman have reasons not to commit. The Tigers have a former top 100 prospect (Jace Jung) and a good platoon partner for him (Matt Vierling) at third. The Astros acquired Isaac Paredes from the Cubs to play third. The Red Sox's best hitter (Rafael Devers) is a third baseman, and they've got two high-ceiling infield prospects on the way in Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer. The Cubs' best prospect, Matt Shaw, plays second and third. And the Blue Jays really have no excuse, beyond a luxury tax payroll already around $270 million that would leap into Steve Cohen tax territory with Bregman. For all the blather about Bregman being a Daikin Park creation (yes, the Astros' ballpark has a new name in 2025), his career OPS is higher on the road. And for all the concern about him turning 31 just after Opening Day, Bregman's skill set -- well above average in the field and on the basepaths, and elite bat-to-ball ability at the plate -- is the sort that can age gracefully. There are mitigating factors, of course. He's not the hitter he was in 2018 and 2019. An outlay north of $150 million in February or March is rare. (The last to get such a deal in a nonlockout year were Bryce Harper and Manny Machado in 2019.) Teams have been happy to wait on Bregman and challenge him to find a deal for more than the six years and $156 million he turned down from Houston earlier this offseason. He has got backers. Red Sox manager Alex Cora wants Bregman badly, and the Red Sox guaranteeing only $52.3 million to free agents this winter has done little to reinvigorate a fan base still smarting from half a decade of relative penny-pinching. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch saw Bregman at his apex during his time in Houston, and a clubhouse as young as Detroit's could benefit greatly from the arrival of one of the most intelligent baseball minds among active players. Astros players want so badly for Bregman to return that star Jose Altuve has volunteered to shift to left field so Bregman can take over at second. The Blue Jays' third-base job currently belongs to Ernie Clement. And as much as the Cubs regard Bregman as an if-the-price-drops target, he could be the difference between a National League Central title and another playoff-free October. Whether Bregman is willing to pivot off his desire for a long-term deal likely will be subject to market forces. But he has waited 3½ months already. If waiting a little longer is enough to convince a team to meet his price, it will have been well worth it. And if not, we'll find out how strictly Bregman adheres to his long-term ask rather than opting for a shorter-term deal with early opt-outs.
Spoiler https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id...dodgers-mets-yankees-red-sox-cubs-soto-sasaki Olney: Alex Bregman, who is likely to land with the Red Sox, Cubs or Tigers soon; sources in the Astros organization are skeptical he'll return to Houston. If he goes to Fenway Park, he could pepper the Green Monster while relearning the nuances of playing in the middle infield. If he goes to Chicago -- likely on a short-term, Cody Bellinger-type deal -- he will have pressure to produce. And if he signs with the Tigers, it would be Detroit's de facto announcement that with Tarik Skubal two years from free agency, the team's window to win is now, and the expensive signing of Bregman would be an all-in move. Feinsand: “Everything you just said is still standing except for the Astros. There’s a very small chance he could wind up back in Houston but they essentially moved on when they acquired Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker. I don’t think that 6-year offer earlier in the winter, I don’t know that’s something they’re still willing to do. ”
Bregman with just an all-time dumb free agency. I'm sure Boras is somewhat to blame, but ultimately the agent works for the player. It's clear that he thought he could get $200 million, yet there have been no reports of him getting anywhere close to that deal. Now he seems to be holding out for the best deal possible, with a decent chance he'll have to take a short term deal. I'll always love Bregman, regardless of whether or not he stays with us, but I think it's fair to acknowledge how poorly he's navigated his free agency.
Yeah, I'm now becoming convinced that Bregman doesn't really want to come back, otherwise he would've signed. He probably wants Boston. His best offer may be Detroit at the moment but would rather go back to Houston than there, and is mulling over 4 years (which may be 3 years if recent reporting is right) to go to Boston instead. I've moved on now.
He definitely misjudged his value. I think it's more on Nora's than him but he should have just stayed here like I said. Him retiring an Astro made sense. He didn't need the extra money
Either get this done this week. Arenado or Bregman. or stand pat . . . Do not want either if it is a mid spring training thing.
And it's totally fair for him to not want to come back. Do I think that's a smart decision? Not at all. Houston seems to check nearly every box for being the best possible destination for him (except for I guess maybe not offering quite the best deal). But it's his decision to make. Just wish he would stay and retire as a rare all-time legend that spends his whole career with a single franchise.
Can we just move on from Bregman already? Give a couple 1 yr deals to Verdugo and a reliever and give Valdez an extension instead.
I'm just curious if you've ever taken a job for less money?... Because of the amount, we've somehow convinced ourselves these athletes are greedy and have enough money, and why won't they take this lesser deal that also happens to help my favorite team... These guys operate the same way you or I would - they don't take less money because that's what YOU want. They maximize their earning potential; same as we all wish to do. Their careers are over before they're 40. Believe it or not, there are not a lot of jobs available to retired baseball players that pay them ~$20MM/year. They strike while the iron is hot and for the love of god, we need to stop shaming them for doing so. If you're asking him to do something you wouldn't do... stop asking - worse, expecting - them to do it. If you can set-up generations of your lineage from a financial perspective, why in the world would you settle for less?
This “report” from Mark Feinsand is filled with inaccuracies. We already know the Astros have kept their six-year offer to Bregman on the table all offseason even after having Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes for their corner infield spots. We also know the Astros improved their offer to Bregman last week, per Ari Alexander via Jon Heyman (ultimately via Scott Boras). Nothing Feinsand said in this report about the Astros and Bregman matches the facts. It doesn’t mean Bregman comes back, but this is just lazy reporting from Feinsand.
To be fair, "we" don't know any of that. Reporting is what it is - hearsay. Lots of people say lots of things. Every reporter (and alleged insider) wants to be the one to break the news to keep (or establish) credibility, so they throw things out that are plausible - in hopes they're right. There are a handful of people that know exactly what is going on. It isn't (alleged) insiders or reporters.
True. I am feeling like the Astros may be keeping their offer out out of respect, but not contacting Bregs or Boras is showing their disinterest in him coming back. Which may be why Bregs is conflicted.
You nor I personally don’t know anything regarding the Bregman negotiations. However, the Astros’ original offer of six years, 156 million has been reported and confirmed by numerous reliable sources since November. Numerous reporters have also confirmed the Astros have kept their offer on the table even after acquiring Walker and Paredes. Furthermore, Ari Alexander is a local reporter with KPRC2. While he may want clicks, he’s not running with Jon Heyman’s report that the Astros improved their offer last week unless he confirmed the information first. He works in Houston media, and he knows he would be vilified by Astros fans on social media if he shared inaccurate information about the Bregman negotiations. Want to know what has never been reported? Official offers to Bregman from other interested teams including years and total contract amounts.
The Astros have no reason to keep their offer on the table out of respect for Alex Bregman with Spring Training around the corner. If Bregman told them he’s not returning, or they decided they were done with these negotiations and no longer want him back, they would move on and start prioritizing other ways they want to upgrade the team like reengaging with St. Louis about Nolan Arenado, as one example.
That's just it. If he comes back then he does, but they aren't going to call and pursue him. Bregs may feel a way about that. Who knows. Just spitballing as nothing really makes sense.
