December noticed 4 of the highest six free brokers on MLBTR’s annual High 50 MLB Free Brokers record come off the board. Left-hander Blake Snell (#4) went to the Dodgers on the ultimate day of November and was adopted by shortstop Willy Adames (#5) and Juan Soto (#1), each of whom signed simply earlier than the Winter Conferences started. Max Fried (#6) then signed in the course of the Winter Conferences, and Corbin Burnes (#2) snuck in a take care of the Diamondbacks simply earlier than 2024 got here to an in depth. That leaves only one free agent within the prime six on the board as we flip in direction of 2025: infielder Alex Bregman, who MLBTR ranked because the offseason’s #3 free agent on the outset of the winter again in November.
Over his 9 years within the majors with the Astros, Bregman has made his mark as a two-time World Collection champion, a two-time All-Star, and a winner of each the Gold Glove (2024) and Silver Slugger (2019) awards at third base. Whereas Bregman hasn’t managed to recapture the 8-win type he flashed at his peak within the years since then, he’s remained a properly above-average common lately: from 2022-24, Bregman slashed a strong .260/.349/.449 (127 wRC+) with 14.0 fWAR and 13.6 bWAR. A mean of four-plus wins a yr ought to make any participant a reasonably sought-after commodity in free company, and Bregman is not any exception. The Purple Sox and Tigers have been continuously linked to Bregman this winter, whereas different suitors of notice embrace the Blue Jays, Mets, and Phillies. It’s a market that appears pretty sturdy, with a number of massive market golf equipment .
With that being stated, nevertheless, Bregman’s leverage in free company might not be as sturdy because it was even just a few weeks in the past. The obvious suitor for the veteran’s providers for a lot of the winter was naturally the incumbent Astros, however a reunion between the perimeters seems to be off the desk at this level as they’ve since signed Christian Walker and traded for Isaac Paredes to cowl the infield corners. In the meantime, the Yankees are seemingly distancing themselves from the highest of the third base market, as reporting final week threw chilly water on the potential for the membership touchdown both Bregman in free company or Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado by way of commerce.
Even a number of the suitors who haven’t been explicitly dominated out for Bregman could have seen their curiosity wane considerably in latest weeks. One such staff may very well be the Tigers, who had been reportedly turning into extra severe about their pursuit of Bregman as not too long ago as final week… however signed second baseman Gleyber Torres to a one-year deal shortly thereafter. Whereas the addition of Torres actually doesn’t outright preclude the Tigers from signing Bregman as properly given their wide-open payroll outlook and the membership’s comparatively unsettled third base scenario, the addition of one other veteran right-handed bat actually appears prone to ease the stress Tigers brass might need in any other case felt so as to add Bregman.
One other potential wild card who could or could not nonetheless be within the combine for Bregman may very well be the Phillies, who reportedly has curiosity in him earlier this winter. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski not too long ago instructed the membership is prone to be completed with main additions, however these feedback had been adopted shortly thereafter by Philadelphia swinging a commerce to land left-hander Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins. The Phillies would doubtless want to maneuver on from third baseman Alec Bohm earlier than they may critically contemplate including Bregman to their lineup, although it’s value noting that Bohm has been a frequent topic of commerce rumors this winter.
Nonetheless, a few of Bregman’s suitors stay clear matches for his providers. The Purple Sox have been among the many groups most continuously mentioned within the rumor mill this winter after taking a relative backseat lately. Whereas rumored pursuits of big-time free brokers like Juan Soto, Max Fried, and Corbin Burnes haven’t yielded fruit up to now, they’ve discovered different methods to be aggressive and revamped their rotation to incorporate Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler. With the beginning 5 seemingly addressed, the membership’s prime precedence going ahead this winter figures to be including a righty bat to the lineup who can each enhance the offense whereas additionally providing some steadiness in opposition to the membership’s many lefty hitters. Bregman would match that position completely, so it’s no shock that the Purple Sox have been continuously linked to him this winter.
The Mets and Blue Jays, in the meantime, haven’t seen their conditions change a lot in latest weeks. New York appears doubtless to prioritize a reunion with first baseman Pete Alonso over including Bregman, who would slot in at third base and kick teenager Mark Vientos over to first whereas doubtless eliminating the potential for a reunion between Alonso and the Mets. Nonetheless, it’s arduous to discover a higher match for the Mets than Bregman when searching for contingencies within the occasion that they’re unable to bridge the present hole in negotiations with their longtime slugger. In Toronto, the addition of Andres Gimenez to the membership’s infield would imply that signing Bregman doubtless pushes Ernie Clement to the bench (at the very least barring a commerce of Bo Bichette), however the third baseman can be precisely the type of middle-of-the-order hitter the Jays have lengthy hoped to pair with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of their lineup.
As is usually the case with high-end free brokers who linger on the open market, Bregman’s price ticket could also be giving some groups pause about extra aggressively pursuing him. The infielder has seemingly been on the hunt for a $200MM deal in free company this winter, and MLBTR’s personal prediction previous to the beginning of the offseason was that he’d land a seven-year $182MM deal. It’s a value that seemingly made each the Astros and Yankees squeamish of their pursuits of Bregman, and the Tigers have additionally appeared unwilling to go to that stage primarily based on earlier studies relating to their curiosity.
If golf equipment are hoping to land Bregman on a deal nearer to the six years and $156MM Houston reportedly provided their longtime third baseman or a short-term, high-AAV deal plagued by opt-outs much like the one Carlos Correa signed when he departed Houston just a few winters in the past, they’ll doubtless have to attend out his market till nearer to the start of Spring Coaching. And the potential for a “thriller staff” swooping in to land Bregman (as occurred with Corbin Burnes simply final week) can’t be dominated out, both.
How will Bregman’s free company play out? Will he land with one in all his at present identified suitors, or a special membership? And can he attain the $200MM deal he seems to be in search of, or wind up regretting turning down Houston’s reported $156MM provide?
