Despite receiving many offers, long-time Houston Astros standout Alex Bregman remains the top free agent available. After the Astros failed to attract the two-time All-Star with a six-year, $156 million contract, the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs stepped in with four-year accords. “Sources have confirmed that the Cubs have offered Alex Bregman a four-year contract with opt-outs worth more than $100 million,” Jacob Zanolla of RealCubsInsider said.
Chicago’s offer came after the Astros reportedly declined to enhance their six-year, $156 million offer. However, it appears that the Astros have had a change of heart. Jon Heyman of The New York Post claimed, “… rumor is they’ve come up from their estimated $156 million, six-year offer from November. Despite the latest offer, Bregman does not seem to be interested. In a new essay this week, ESPN’s Buster Olney identified the three teams most likely to sign Bregman – and Houston is not one of them.
“Alex Bregman is expected to sign with the Red Sox, Cubs, or Tigers soon; sources in the Astros organization are skeptical he will return to Houston.” “If he goes to Fenway Park, he can pepper the Green Monster while relearning the intricacies of playing in the middle infield,” Olney added.
“If he moves to Chicago — most likely on a short-term contract similar to Cody Bellinger’s — he will be under pressure to produce. And if he joins with the Tigers, it would be Detroit’s de facto admission that, with Tarik Skubal about to hit free agency in two years, the team’s opportunity to win has closed, and adding Bregman would be an all-in approach. Bregman batted in 145 games in 2024 and had an OPS of.768.260 with 26 home runs, the third most in his career, and 75 RBIs.
