The Houston Astros have lately re-entered the conversation about third baseman Alex Bregman.
Bregman’s market has stopped, and Houston appears ready to go on without him.
They almost traded for Nolan Arenado, but when that went through, they shifted gears and signed Christian Walker, shifting the freshly acquired Isaac Paredes to third base.
However, Houston has returned to Bregman’s radar. However, there is a chance he will sign elsewhere. ESPN’s David Schoenfield identified the Boston Red Sox as a potential possibility.
“Bregman is a fantastic fit for Fenway Park, where he has a lifetime OPS of 1.240 in the regular season, plus the Red Sox need a right-handed batter. Schoenfield remarked, “It appears everyone has wanted to put Bregman on the Red Sox all winter.”
Bregman hit.260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI last season, earning 4.1 WAR in Houston. If he signs with Boston, he will most likely move to second base, allowing Rafael Devers to remain at third base.
Houston would be upset by this loss, especially when hope for Bregman’s return was renewed. Since his debut in the major leagues in 2016, he has been a fan favorite in Houston.
Bregman has led Houston to two World Series championships, been named to two All-Star teams, and received the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. The Astros were wise to pivot to Walker and Paredes, and they have a backup plan in place if Bregman walks.
However, losing him would be devastating. We’ll see if the Astros can make a competitive offer to bring him back.
