Right. Because crying that Alex Bregman should accept *your* terms so your favorite baseball team will be good is a much better take. Let me know when you start giving your employer hometown discounts or start taking less money because you wouldn't dare risk being seen as greedy. To insinuate Alex Bregman should take less than what he feels he has earned because the amount of money being discussed is a lot *to you* is such sanctimonious bullshit. He has earned the right to negotiate his next contract. He is aware of what his peers make and he has statistics that rank him among those peers - why is Alex Bregman "greedy" for seeking compensation that reflects the market in which he operates?
If Bregman truly does take the short term deal with opt outs with another team, that will change my view on him. Obviously I’m thankful for his time as an Astro, but damn dude really?
Are you saying you know the details of the Astros offer? How do you know the offer isn't frontloaded? Comparing the AAV of his putative offer to the final years of his current contract is lame. By AAV, he's getting a raise. And if Bregman wants to ensure a "raise", he can frontload his contract. The obvious issue is no one wants to pay him much of anything after he turns 35
Well said. I certainly understand the angst among fans because it's hard for us to contemplate making tens of millions of dollars. Of course it's easy for *us* to think $20M is more than enough; why can't Alex Bregman feel the same way? Because he doesn't exist in our financial stratosphere! But within his financial stratosphere, the same conditions we ourselves seek, consider, etc, exist: it's a free market, he possesses a certain skill, and he wants to be properly compensated for that skill commiserate with the compensation his peers make. We *all* want that. Screaming that Alex Bregman is greedy because he doesn't settle for less than his perceived value - when we would never, ever advise ANYONE to do the same in our own lives - drives me crazy. He's not the bad guy here.
I felt this way about the Correa deal when he went to Minnesota. He didn't get the deal he was looking for, and took a shorter term deal with a team that wasn't in the mix instead of "caving". I always found it extremely weird none of the blue bloods were able to match that very reasonable Minnesota deal. I don't think they were given the chance to. I get the feeling Bregman is gonna do the same thing, which I think will be a mistake at his age. I don't think he owes anybody anything, but I do think he's backed his ego into a corner.
It is funny how all 5 teams "still in the race" all have direct ties to Bregman Boston Red Sox (Cora) Toronto Blue Jays (Springer) Chicago Cubs (Pressly, Tucker) Detroit Tigers (Hinch) Houston Astros (home team)
The path of least resistance is Houston. But, resistance can be futile so. I don’t believe he will be back. I’ve lost hope. Coming back isn’t splash enough for a guy who thinks he’s worth $200 million.
I think Boras is calling all the shots and Bregs is tied up in a closet somewhere. It's the only thing that makes sense.
Repeating this over and over doesn't make it true. The same teams that were interested a month or two ago still seem to be interested. None of them are signing any others players to dry up his market. His market is the same as it was a week ago and a month ago.
Carlos Correa got a $300MM+ offer the next year, had it voided, and - despite a new injury mess - still got way more than the Astros had offered the previous year. Correa is the example of why players shouldn't accept long-term offers below their value. That said, Bregman's scenario is different due to age.
It's not just that they wouldn't do the same thing. It's that they think he's greedy for not doing what random fan wants. As though he should live his life in service of random internet fan's desires. It says a lot about people's character that they even think about people that way.
Astros offer was 5 years/160M ($32M AAV) Twins signed him for 6 years/200M ($33.33 AAV) I wouldn't say he got way more. I know there are some vesting options and things that could make the Minny deal bigger, but we don't know what other incentives or ornaments would've been included in the Astros deal either.
I respectfully disagree. As I pointed out before look at Alonzo's deal. If they're so interested why hasn't he signed? I think that's Boras trying to float stuff to the media.
He also got 1 yr at $35MM. So he managed a total of 7 years at $235MM plus some vesting options vs 5 years $160MM - he got $75MM extra for two years in his mid-30's. And that was basically the worst-case scenario for him. Best case was $340MM in total guarantees.
By taking a shorter deal with opt outs Bregman is betting on himself to earn a bigger deal. Seems foolish to me as there is little chance his best baseball is in front of him. Will be interesting if he takes say 3/90 if he gets to $165m in 6 years. His play could really fall off after three years. Ultimately I disagree that more money tops everything else. Legacy is very important. Bregman is a 2x champion who also has the most postseason HRs for a 3B in history. Staying with the Astros means more opportunities to build that legacy rather than go off into obscurity like Springer and Correa. Obviously I’m a homer, but it makes little sense to me to get a few more million but likely never get close to another WS. At his age you would think Bregman would value legacy and playoff runs more.
You understand that's how free agency works, right? Teams try to pay as little as they can. Players try to earn as much as they can. They'll sign when they meet somewhere where both parties agree - that hasn't happened yet. It doesn't mean it won't. Two of the biggest MLB contracts in history at the time didn't get signed until mid-February. You could have asked this same question of Harper and Machado.
