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Detroit Tigers want 'special guy' Alex Bregman as spring training begins
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- Detroit Tigers want 'special guy' Alex Bregman as spring training begins
LAKELAND, Fla. — Manager A.J. Hinch wants Alex Bregman . Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal wants Bregman. Third baseman Matt Vierling wants Bregman.
But does Bregman want the Tigers ?
It's unclear when Bregman will sign, but there's no doubt almost everyone associated with the Detroit Tigers wants Bregman — who remains on the free-agent market — as pitchers and catchers reported to spring training Wednesday for their first official workout of the 2025 season.
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The Tigers have an offer on the table and are one of five teams pursuing Bregman , alongside the Houston Astros , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , Toronto Blue Jays .
"I get asked about it on airplanes, in restaurants, walking down the street," Hinch said Wednesday of Bregman, whom he managed from 2016-19 with the Astros. "I live in Houston during the offseason, so you can imagine how that's gone. It's obvious he's a very talented player, a very impactful player, and someone who's close to my heart. This is a guy who I'm really close with."
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Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch talks with third baseman Alex Bregman during warmups before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays in game three of the 2019 ALDS playoff baseball series at Tropicana Field Oct. 7, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
President of baseball operations Scott Harris , who has already signed four free agents, is in pursuit of acquiring a position player available on the free agent and trade markets, but he isn't making any promises about adding.
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"We're always looking to make our team better," Harris said last week. "There's still a lot of free agents out there. There's still a lot of trade conversations. I don't know that we're definitely going to be able to add, but we're looking to add."
For now, Vierling is preparing to play third base for the Tigers.
But Vierling is ready to move to the outfield for Bregman.
"We'd love to have him and everything like that," Vierling said Wednesday. "He's an incredible player. He would help our team win. ... I'm preparing to play third base, and then if we get him, I'll obviously change."
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Vierling is one of the leaders in the Tigers' clubhouse .
"I know he would dramatically improve our team," Vierling said. "Whatever it takes to help the team win. I'm sure he'd go to third base, and then I'd get maneuvered around. I'm prepared for it."
THE IMPACT: Why free-agent Alex Bregman can help Tigers on the field, behind the scenes
If the Tigers sign Bregman, he would become the everyday third baseman. A Bregman-to-Detroit signing would push Vierling to a full-time role in right field and could send prospect Jace Jung to Triple-A Toledo.
This situation is similar to what happened in last year's spring training.
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In mid-February 2024, Vierling showed up expecting to be the primary third baseman. By late February, the Tigers signed third baseman Gio Urshela and moved Vierling to the outfield. In 2024, Vierling logged 739 innings in the outfield and 369⅓ innings at third base.
"I'm ready for anything," Vierling said.
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Bregman, who turns 31 in late March, is a two-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion. In the past three seasons, he has hit .260 with an 11.1% walk rate, a 12.4% strikeout rate and a .798 OPS, averaging 25 home runs and 154 games per season.
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With Bregman, the Tigers would become contenders for the World Series .
"I've largely stayed away from talking about it because he's not here," Hinch said. "I've tried not to go into the public relations banter on trying to recruit him here. But he can help any major league team. Time will tell where that is and what he chooses. Special guy."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers want 'special guy' Alex Bregman as spring training begins
