Throughout much of the MLB offseason, the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers were considered top contenders to sign star free agent third baseman Alex Bregman.
However, recent reports suggest that Bregman, a two-time All-Star, has reopened discussions with his current team, the Houston Astros, about potentially returning for the 2025 season and beyond.
On Friday, New York Post baseball columnist and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman shared that both the Astros and Cubs are showing significant interest in Bregman. To accommodate him, the Astros may be willing to adjust their defense, potentially moving 2024 All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes to second base and shifting franchise legend Jose Altuve to left field. Paredes has experience at second base, but Altuve has only played two games outside second base in his career.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s David Schoenfield, as part of the network’s “Bold predictions for the 2024-25 MLB offseason,” dismissed most of the Bregman rumors and suggested a new potential destination for the Gold Glove winner.
Dodgers ‘Might be a Surprise Fit’
The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a great month, signing Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) standout utility player Hyeseong Kim to a three-year, $12.5 million contract in early January and striking a tentative agreement with all-standout closer Kirby Yates on Tuesday. Those moves follow the additions of stellar starting pitchers Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki, another All-Star closer in Tanner Scott, and the re-signing of All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, among other moves.
Schoenfield noted on Friday that Los Angeles might not be done yet.
“Why should the Dodgers stop here? If Bregman cannot find the large deal he seeks, the Dodgers could be an unexpected fit,” he said. “Max Muncy is a free agent after 2025 and has a high strikeout rate. Hyeseong Kim’s bat suggests he’ll be a utility infielder rather than a starter at second base. Bregman can move from second to third in 2025 and then replace Muncy in 2026.”
According to reports on Thursday, the Dodgers are expected to have a $374 million payroll on Opening Day, the largest in MLB. The Philadelphia Phillies were placed second at $303 million, while the New York Yankees were third at $298 million.
According to Schoenfield, Los Angeles may yet have room for Bregman to join the team.
“Too much money even for the Dodgers? Not really,” he wrote. “Between Muncy, Chris Taylor, Michael Conforto, and Miguel Rojas, the Dodgers have $49.5 million coming off the books after this season (and the pitching staff is set for years).”
Where Would Bregman Fit in Dodgers Lineup?
The Dodgers lineup is as deadly as ever going into 2025, even if their bullpen is full of flamethrowing hurlers who could be most teams’ shutdown closer and their starting rotation is full of aces who would be many teams’ No. 1.
Bregman’s inclusion might provide manager Dave Roberts and his team with a starting nine that is historically loaded.
Here’s how a potential Dodgers lineup could look on Opening Day with the signing of the 2019 AL MVP runner-up.
Projected starting lineup:
– DH Shohei Ohtani
– SS Mookie Betts
– 1B Freddie Freeman
– RF Teoscar Hernandez
– C Will Smith
– 3B Alex Bregman
– LF Michael Conforto
– CF Tommy Edman
– 2B Hyeseong Kim/Max Muncy
The Dodgers lineup is as deadly as ever going into 2025, even if their bullpen is full of flamethrowing hurlers who could be most teams’ shutdown closer and their starting rotation is full of aces who would be many teams’ No. 1.
Bregman’s inclusion might provide manager Dave Roberts and his team with a starting nine that is historically loaded.
alongside Bregman joining the team, Muncy (another two-time All-Star) would be shifted to the bench or platoon role alongside Kim, while Conforto (a one-time All-Star) would be moved down the lineup.
A Bregman deal would give the defending World Series winners a total of 29 All-Star selections among their starting nine (including Muncy), plus another one or three from Taylor and/or Muncy on the bench.
Simply absurd.
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