I guess Jim Crane should just pay them all what they want then, right? You are trying way too hard to make Crane the "bad guy" here when in reality there isn't one. Bregman took the deal he thought was best for him and that's fine too.
I guess you missed the part about the deferred money and the fact the PV of the contract is actually $90M, not $120M.
But that’s why they have the opt outs. Boras got him the best possible deal. Eventually a team always gets aggressive (in terms of spending). Boston has been saving money the last few years, with less attendance and a payroll far below their revenues. They were going to splurge for the right situation.
He should have theoretically had more than "a chip on his shoulder" this past season knowing he was playing for a contract and yet he put up the worst full year of his career. This was after putting up what was the worst full year of his career the prior season. We know you love Bregman but what you are saying doesn't make any logical sense.
There is no bad guy here. I don't care about the money. I just want my favorite players to stay and the Astros to win. But I can't fault Alex for taking that bag or Crane for not wanting to pay the penalties or limit what he can spend over the next 3 seasons. It sucks but there is no bad guy.
Yeah, I think there is a high chance he ends up opting out and Boston was a good choice if he wanted to bet on himself. I do think he has a good year.
While I agree with the idea - playing in Boston could rehabilitate any reputational damage - I don't agree 2-3 GREAT seasons gets Bregman close to Cooperstown. Even if we assumed 18 bWAR over the next three years - which is overwhelmingly generous, given he's only topped 6/season twice in his career, and it's been six years - he'd still be well-below the JAWS threshold for 3B. And that's before we (potentially) add 2B into the equation, which is a much-less premium position. I've had this discussion with friends - who of the Astros golden era could end up in Cooperstown... Verlander, obviously; Altuve likely. Yordan is on pace. After that, Springer, Correa, Tucker & Bregman - right now - probably all get 2nd ballots looks; some may kick around for a few years... But I don't think they'll have much juice.
I agree, that was my point. I would have loved to have kept him here as well. Don't blame him for leaving though, and like you said, I'm not going to blame Crane either.
The walks cratering had to be a concern. He has to get that bat going earlier in the swing. His eye was super elite just 2 seasons ago. I will be curious to see if he can regain that or if he has to compensate for declining bat speed. I am guessing .265 ba/.345 obp /.460 slug 22 HRs
The only reason he opts out is if he had a great year and already got the sense that he could sign long term in Boston. Don't see that happening after year 1. He'd have to go at least 2 years of stellar play before even thinking about extending another 3 years afterwards. I feel he'll play out his contract and see what happens after that.
Between the two, Crane is certainly more of a bad guy, and absolutely more worthy of scorn and derision. I don't believe Bregman (or Keuchel, or Springer, or Correa) did a single thing wrong. Having said that, I do think Crane is making sound - or, at least, defensible - baseball decisions here. But he does - like almost every MLB owner - sell bullshit financial hardship to the fans, who unwittingly swallow it. He can absolutely afford to pay these players whatever they want. He could be Steve Cohen. Or whoever owns the Dodgers. He's *choosing* not to be.
From a fan standpoint, honestly I'm really glad he's gone. We were on pace to put him up there with Astros greats like Biggio, Bagwell, and Altuve so it's a good thing he shows that he doesn't belong being mentioned along with them because he lacks the loyalty and overall character for that kind of honor. From a baseball standpoint, the Astros already replaced them once they realized greed was his sole motivator. I'm glad the team he found to rip off isn't the Astros. Now let's move on and hopefully find an outfield.
