Third baseman Matt Chapman’s six-year, $151M extension with the Giants could have set the marketplace for Alex Bregman in free company.
The 2 gamers are related. Bregman is a 12 months youthful at 30 years outdated and broke into the majors a 12 months earlier than Chapman. Whereas Chapman is the superior defender (70 runs saved at third in comparison with Bregman’s 28), Bregman has been extra productive offensively (132 OPS+ to Chapman’s 118). Bregman has been barely extra priceless so far, with 39.6 bWAR in comparison with Chapman at 38.4 bWAR, however he additionally has that further 12 months of service time.
Bregman had a stable 2024 for the Astros, though it was one of many worst seasons of his profession. He produced a .260/.315/.453 batting line in his 634 plate appearances, hitting 26 homers and 30 doubles. According to FanGraphs, Bregman is taken into account the third-best free agent, top-of-the-line third basemen within the recreation whose protection doesn’t get sufficient credit score.
Bregman is about to obtain a big payday. Let’s check out three potential touchdown spots.
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are in a troublesome spot with Alex Bregman. They’re an getting old workforce on the finish of their window of rivalry with the worst farm system within the recreation.
The Astros have been clear that signing Bregman to a long-term extension was a precedence. Though the extension didn’t come to fruition, the Astros may have a bonus as Bregman was given a qualifying offer. Groups could not wish to half with the draft choose and the monetary price of bringing Bregman on board. Likewise, Minute Maid Park is a perfect match for the third baseman. He may simply keep in Houston.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers went on a powerful run over the ultimate two months of the common season, resulting in an surprising playoff berth. The onerous half is now forward – persevering with to contend for the postseason.
Bregman would go a great distance towards that objective. Detroit’s third basemen have been mediocre at best offensively in 2024, posting a mixed .242/.301/.371 batting line with 25 homers. There’s additionally a level of familiarity as Tigers’ supervisor A.J. Hinch was Bregman’s skipper throughout his first 4 years in Houston. Hinch was additionally the Astros supervisor throughout Bregman’s two All-Star seasons as nicely, a potential added incentive to move to Detroit.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees had been linked to Bregman in the course of the 2024 season because the Astros bought off to a gradual begin. The Astros getting sizzling because the Mariners collapsed ended these ideas in the meanwhile.
Third base had been a sore spot within the lineup earlier than the Yankees acquired Jazz Chisholm. Nonetheless, Chisholm’s finest place is second base, a place that’s probably open since Gleyber Torres is a free agent. Whereas there’s nonetheless loads of animosity amongst Yankees’ followers because of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, that will disappear if Bregman helped lead the Yankees to a championship.