The 2024 Free Agency season has begun and Kyle Hendricks signed with the Los Angeles Angels so that brings the question of where some of the big-name free agents sign. Some of the big pitchers are Corbin Burns, Blake Snell, and Max Fried while at the plate the biggest name is Juan Soto but what about Alex Bregman who could leave the Houston Astros where he spent the first nine seasons of his career winning two World Series titles. Entering free agency MLB.com has Bregman as the fourth-ranked free agent and they have the Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Seattle Mariners as the potential fits but three teams have been linked to Bregman already this offseason and they make a lot of sense.
New York Yankees
The Yankees in 2024 had Oswaldo Cabrera, Jazz Chisholm Jr., DJ Lemahieu, Jon Berti, Oswald Peraza, and Jahmai Jones play at third base. Bregman would be a bat that they could add to the lineup if they lost Juan Soto to the Mets and they could put Chisholm in the outfield or even at second base if Gleyber Torres signs elsewhere. They have the money to pay Bregman a big contract as well.
Detroit Tigers
Enter the AJ Hinch connection as he managed Bregman at the Astros from 2015-2019 before his suspension and becoming the Tigers manager in 2021. The Tigers started the season with Gio Urshela as their third baseman before he was designated for assignment after they played Matt Vierling, Zach McKinstry, Jace Jung, Andy Ibanez, Ryan Kreidler, and Buddy Kennedy throughout the season. Jung is one of their top prospects and very likely would be their third baseman but could the option of moving Colt Keith to first base and Jung to second open up third base for Bregman to be a big bat added to the Tigers’ lineup that could put in the four spot in the lineup.
Boston Red Sox
This one has been talked about a lot with Rafael Devers currently being the everyday third baseman for the Red Sox, in 2024 he turned in a .960 fielding percentage which was the second-best of his career the top season was 2022 when he had a .964, that .964 season would be tied for Bregman’s sixth best season which he posted that twice once in 2021 and the other in 2018 so he would be a defensive upgrade the conversation is trading Masataka Yoshida and then Rafael Devers slides into the designated hitter role which opens third base up for Bregman. His bat would also be a perfect fit for the Green Monster in left field and give the Red Sox a right-handed bat to add to their lineup.
Alex Bregman
Bregman at the plate in his nine-year career is a .272 hitter with a .848 OPS; he has 265 doubles, 18 triples, 191 home runs, 663 RBI, 694 runs scored, 42 stolen bases, and 576 walks. In 2024 in 145 games he hit .315 with a .768 OPS; he had 30 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs, 75 RBI, 79 runs scored, three stolen bases, and 44 walks.
Bottom Line:
This offseason is going to be a fun one, especially with all the names at the top of the list that are available and of course the trades that will occur but this is only just the beginning and Bregman will be a name to watch.
