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Detroit Tigers MLB free agency: Pursuit of Alex Bregman continues as market narrows
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- Detroit Tigers MLB free agency: Pursuit of Alex Bregman continues as market narrows
The Detroit Tigers are still pursuing Alex Bregman .
Mutual interest remains, but there is a gap in perceived value between the two sides as negotiations continue, according to sources not authorized to speak publicly on the situation. Notable progress has been made since the start of the offseason , particularly in the past month.
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Less than 24 hours ago, the Tigers signed Gleyber Torres , a fellow right-handed hitting infielder, to a one-year, $15 million contract . Signing Torres to play second base doesn't prohibit the Tigers from signing Bregman to play third base.
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"I can't comment on any current free agent," Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Friday, when asked about Bregman after signing Torres. "I can just tell you we are already working to continue to get better."
Jun 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman throws a fielded ball to first base against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning at Minute Maid Park.
Bregman, a nine-year MLB veteran who is represented by agent Scott Boras, has sought a $200 million contract in free agency, but the Tigers have been unwilling to meet that demand . The two sides are exploring the possibility of finding middle ground, according to a source.
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What's the reason for the gap in value?
The gap in value stems from Bregman remaining unsigned nearly 60 days into free agency, with the number of potentially interested teams dwindling as other top free agents secure new deals. Meanwhile, the Tigers are maintaining a disciplined approach in their pursuit of Bregman, prioritizing sustained competitiveness in their decision-making.
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With 46 days until spring training, the door is wide open for the Tigers — and the Boston Red Sox , among other teams — to sign Bregman, especially since Bregman's market decreased by one team when his former team filled its infield (and its payroll) in the past two weeks.
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The Houston Astros pivoted from Bregman by trading for third baseman Isaac Paredes on Dec. 13 and signing first baseman Christian Walker on Dec. 20. As a result, the Astros' six-year, $156 million offer to re-sign Bregman is no longer on the table, so there won't be a reunion between the Astros and Bregman.
"The negotiations stalled," Astros general manager Dana Brown told reporters two days before Christmas. "I feel like we made a really competitive offer and showed that we wanted him back. But we had to pursue other options. We couldn't just sit there."
Bregman appears to be a perfect fit for the Tigers, even with Torres on the roster.
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The Tigers signed Torres as the everyday second baseman and moved Colt Keith to first base for the 2025 season , replacing Spencer Torkelson . Essentially, the Tigers swapped Torres for Torkelson, which is one right-handed hitter for another right-handed hitter. The Tigers would benefit from acquiring another right-handed hitter to balance the lineup filled with left-handed hitters. More importantly, the Torres signing didn't address the three-year question mark at third base, where Matt Vierling and Jace Jung are currently projected for the most playing time in 2025, though Jung is a poor defender and Vierling fits better in the outfield.
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Not only is Bregman a right-handed hitter, but he is a two-time All-Star in 2018 and 2019 and a two-time World Series champion in 2017 and 2022. He has a Gold Glove at third base, and his bat is made for the top of the lineup. He trails only former teammate Jose Altuve on MLB's active postseason leaderboard with 99 games played and 434 plate appearances.
Bregman has relationships with Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and bullpen catcher Chris Chinea . Hinch was Bregman's manager from 2016-19 with the Astros; Chinea was Bregman's teammate from 2013-15 at LSU (and his roommate for two of those three seasons).
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As a hitter, Bregman is an example of everything the Tigers are trying to teach their young hitters. He makes smart swing decisions, puts the ball in play at an elite rate, refuses to strike out and draws walks. On top of that, he has hit more than 20 home runs in each of the past three seasons.
His 4.1 fWAR ranked 28th among 129 qualified position players in the 2024 season, ahead of some key names from the hot stove this offseason: Teoscar Hernández (3.5 fWAR), Paredes (3.4 fWAR), Anthony Santander (3.3 fWAR), Nolan Arenado (3.1 fWAR), Walker (3.0 fWAR) and Torres (1.7 fWAR). He also ranked 18th among 230 position players with 14 fWAR from 2022-24, including a 19th-ranked 5.4 fWAR in 2022 and a 26th-ranked 4.5 fWAR in 2023.
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Bregman is a leader, a winner and a third baseman.
He has been a top-30 position player in each of the past three seasons.
The Tigers have strong interest in him.
If values align, Bregman will be a Tiger in 2025 and beyond.
"We are trying to find ways to make this organization better," Harris said. "We feel like we already did with Alex Cobb and Gleyber Torres , but we're going to find ways to continue to get better. If you remember, we signed guys when we were already in Lakeland last year and the year before. We're going to keep working. ... But I really like where we're at right now."
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Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers pursuit of Alex Bregman continues as market narrows
