Whereas the vast majority of consideration figures to be targeted on the outfield market within the aftermath of Juan Soto’s choice to signal with the Mets on a record-shattering deal final night time, one different beneficiary of the failed suitors’ anticipated aggressiveness on the remainder of the free agent market could possibly be third baseman Alex Bregman. Rob Bradford of WEEI reported final night time that the Crimson Sox might “instantly be prioritizing” a pursuit of Bregman within the aftermath of Soto’s signing as they give the impression of being to make use of these funds to signal different high free brokers, whereas USA At the moment’s Bob Nightengale reviews this morning that the Yankees are “anticipated” to make a run at free company’s high infielder as nicely.
The Crimson Sox have been beforehand reported as a possible suitor for Bregman earlier this winter, however their degree of curiosity has not been clear thus far. Now, it seems they could have extra important curiosity in including the 30-year-old veteran to their roster after failing to land Soto. Bregman definitely makes loads of sense for the Crimson Sox, as he’d assist to stability a closely left-handed lineup as a right-handed hitter with a profession .277/.367/.494 slash line towards southpaws. What’s extra, the membership’s crowded outfield combine makes the infield maybe the obvious place for Boston so as to add to the lineup, although they’ve seemingly prioritized including pitching assist (other than their pursuit of Soto) thus far within the offseason.
Maybe the most important impediment to Bregman touchdown in Boston is a considerably questionable positional match. Bregman has spent nearly his total huge league profession on the sizzling nook, which is at the moment occupied by Rafael Devers at Fenway Park. That stated, it’s straightforward to see how the Crimson Sox may match Bregman into their plans in the event that they’re sufficiently motivated to take action. Bregman has expressed a willingness to slip over to second base if his new workforce so needs, and the Crimson Sox have additionally reportedly thought-about shifting Devers off third base into both a primary base or DH function. There’s potential flaws in both of these plans given the presence of high prospect Kristian Campbell as a probably huge league prepared long-term resolution on the keystone and Devers’ reported need to stay at third base for the foreseeable future, however these are points that might absolutely be labored round if Boston have been sufficiently motivated.
The Yankees, in the meantime, have been a speculative match for Bregman’s providers however haven’t beforehand been reported to have curiosity within the veteran. The membership is bound to be aggressive in upgrading its roster now that Soto has landed elsewhere, and an infield that sports activities little certainty exterior of Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe is an apparent place to start out. The membership had reported in shortstop Willy Adames as a candidate to play both second or third base earlier than he signed with the Giants over the weekend, and Bregman is definitely a logical match to fill that very same function.
Chisholm performed third base for the Yankees down the stretch and into the postseason after being acquired from the Marlins final summer season however has way more expertise on the keystone, so including a confirmed third baseman like Bregman may improve the membership on each side of the ball by permitting Chisholm to maneuver again to his pure place whereas including a dependable hitter who’s by no means posted a wRC+ decrease than 114 in a season to their lineup. One theoretical roadblock to the Yankees signing Bregman could possibly be discontent as a result of third baseman being a part of the 2017 Astros squad that was implicated within the notorious sign-stealing scandal, although the identical could possibly be stated for shortstop Carlos Correa and GM Brian Cashman’s entrance workplace didn’t let that cease them from pursuing him when he was a free agent three years in the past.
In fact, the longtime archrivals of the AL East are hardly the one suitors for Bregman’s providers. The Phillies, Blue Jays, and Tigers all reportedly have no less than some degree of curiosity within the veteran infield this winter, and the incumbent Astros are maybe his most evident suitor of all. Houston has already made a proposal to Bregman’s camp this winter, which was reportedly within the vary of six years and $156MM. He’s reportedly searching for a deal within the $200MM vary, nonetheless, and that hole may create room for one among his different suitors to swoop in and pull him away from the Astros. That’s led the membership to discover contingency plans in case Bregman indicators elsewhere resembling infielder Jorge Polanco and first baseman Christian Walker, GM Dana Brown made clear in an look on MLBNetwork Radio yesterday that retaining their star third baseman stays the membership’s high precedence.
“We’re engaged on it… we’re having numerous conversations with Scott [Boras], and, you realize, we’re optimistic,” Brown stated of their pursuit of Bregman. He went on to clarify that, even when they don’t re-sign Bregman in free company this winter, he expects the membership to hunt exterior assist at third base. Brown famous that he believes the membership’s inside infield options to be anyplace from six months to a yr away from being prepared for large league motion, indicating that no less than a stopgap resolution on the sizzling nook resembling Polanco might be crucial for Houston ought to they fail to carry Bregman again into the fold.
