The Houston Astros may soon lose one of their longest-tenured players to an up-and-coming competitor.
After a fantastic nine-year stint in Houston, Alex Bregman entered free agency, aiming to land a contract worth at least $200 million. The Astros attempted to arrange a reunion early in the offseason, but instead traded for Isaac Paredes to play Bregman’s former third base position and signed Christian Walker across the field at first base.
Earlier this week, Astros manager Joe Espada stated that the “door is still open” for Bregman to return to Houston, citing ongoing discussions between the two parties even after Houston added Paredes and Walker.
However, one Major League Baseball expert believes one of the Astros’ American League rivals is the favorite to sign the two-time Houston All-Star.
On Wednesday, insider Jon Heyman stated on MLB Network that the Red Sox are the “most likely” destination for Bregman this winter.
“Right now, I’m hearing there are five teams in it,” Heyman informed me. “(The Red Sox) have not been a team that has signed a major free agent contract. As of right now, I believe they are the most likely to sign Alex Bregman.
In Boston, Bregman would project as the starting second baseman because of the presence of three-time All-Star Rafael Devers at third base. There have been suggestions that Boston will move Devers to first base, necessitating the trade of first baseman Triston Casas or designated hitter Masataka Yoshida, but second base is a more obvious current option.
With Devers, Trevor Story, Bregman, and Casas from left to right, Boston might suddenly have one of the most well-rounded infields in baseball assuming everyone remains healthy.
That’s a threat the Astros don’t want to face in the American League unless absolutely necessary. However, if signing Bregman is based on need and financial flexibility, Boston makes more sense than Houston at this point.
