Alex Bregman Predicted to Spurn Astros for $168 Million Deal With AL Rival
Now that outfielder Juan Soto is off the market, third baseman Alex Bregman is the best position player left in free agency. Will he re-sign with the Houston Astros, or will he take his talents elsewhere for 2025 and beyond? According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Astros have been unwilling to offer a contract beyond six years to the 30-year-old slugger. Houston appears to already be preparing for life without the two-time World Series champion, as well.
They tried to initiate a trade for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado before he blocked that opportunity by exercising his no-trade clause. Isaac Paredes was part of the package Houston received from the Chicago Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade. While Paredes could shift to first base if Bregman re-signs, he’s primarily manned the hot corner since the start of 2023.
If Bregman doesn’t remain in Houston, which team could land the 2019 Silver Slugger Award winner? Just Baseball’s Ryan Finkelstein thinks Bregman’s most realistic landing spot right now is the Detroit Tigers. While the contract prediction is for six years and $168 million, Finkelstein thinks Detroit will stretch out of its comfort zone to get a deal done. “Now when it comes to the contract, the Tigers might have to commit a seventh year to get Bregman to sign, and doing so at the AAV we laid out would get him close to $200 million,” Finkelstein wrote.
Bregman could fit well on several teams, including those in bigger markets like the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. The Tigers have been a popular landing spot prediction for the third baseman this winter, so we’ll see if it eventually comes true.
