The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers got into a bit of a bidding war for free agent infielder Alex Bregman last offseason. Bregman ended up signing with the Red Sox and put together a good year in Boston.
But he’s a free agent again this offseason after opting out of his contract. Now the Tigers will have a chance to sign him again, but the Red Sox are expected to pursue him aggressively again.
MLB’s Mark Feinsand recently suggested the Tigers would be the perfect fit for Bregman in free agency this winter, which could result in the Red Sox losing their star.
“If this one seems familiar, it is,” Feinsand wrote. “Bregman and the Tigers danced the free-agent dance last year before the third baseman signed with the Red Sox, but with no qualifying offer attached this year, could things be different? Detroit’s .628 OPS at third base ranked last in the AL, making the hot corner a clear need for the Tigers.”
The Tigers need to make a run at the World Series while Tarik Skubal is on the roster. Considering Skubal has one year left on his contract, this is the perfect time to do it.
If the Tigers are still trying to extend Skubal, they might not have the money to sign Bregman, who’s projected to sign for $182 million, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic.
But the Tigers could take a shot. Signing Bregman to a five or six-year deal would bolster their roster quite a bit for the next half-decade.
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