The New York Yankees are prepared to return to the postseason in October. However, general manager Brian Cashman and his front office are most likely working to mold the 2025 roster over the winter. Could Alex Bregman, the Houston Astros’ third baseman, fit in the Bronx?
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report selected 10 potential landing destinations for the upcoming free agent. He regarded the Yankees as the second-best option among this group. The Seattle Mariners were the only team to finish ahead of them.
“Though the Astros have never shown an interest in dealing Bregman, his name has occasionally surfaced in the rumor mill. “And whenever it has, Yankees-related speculation has always followed,” he continued. “This traces back to the Yankees’ revolving door at the hot corner.” And, while Jazz Chisholm Jr. has put a stop to it for the time being, one must assume it will only be temporary.
Bregman will complete a five-year, $100 million contract deal with the Astros in 2024 before leaving for free agency. Now that Matt Chapman has decided to stay with the San Francisco Giants, Bregman should be the top third baseman available in free agency.
What kind of contract may the 31-year-old sign this winter? Rymer estimated a seven-year, $210 million contract for Bregman on August 1.
How Alex Bregman Might Fit In With The Yankees
Based on the Yankees’ current infield mix and anticipated roster cuts after the season, it’s simple to see where Bregman fits in.
As Rymer said, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has played a lot of third base since being acquired at the trade deadline. He spent the first few years of his MLB career with the Miami Marlins, playing second base. Gleyber Torres currently occupies that position on the diamond, but it is unlikely that he will do so for long.
Torres is also set to enter free agency this winter. While he has previously expressed a wish to stay with the Yankees, his future with the team remains undetermined. In 2024, he received $14.2 million despite posting a.250/.328/.362 batting line with 12 home runs and 55 RBI.
If the Yankees decide to let Torres sign elsewhere, Chisholm can easily slide back to second base. If New York wants to maintain DJ LeMahieu, he could get some playing time at first base. This would be considerably easier if the Yankees declined Anthony Rizzo’s 2025 option.
These actions would leave the hot spot open, allowing Bregman to step in at a reasonable price.
Will a Bregman pursuit be contingent on what happens with Juan Soto?
Everything about the Yankees’ upcoming summer will be influenced by their attempts to re-sign outfielder Juan Soto. Based on his performance for New York in 2024, the 25-year-old will be Cashman’s first priority.
That should also be the case since whether or not he re-signs will give a good indication of how much money the Yankees will spend on the rest of their squad. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Soto’s next contract may start at $500 million. This figure could continue to rise depending on which teams decide to make a real push at him.
If Soto remains in the Bronx, it’s difficult to imagine the Yankees making another big splash. Mostly because team owner Hal Steinbrenner has officially stated that New York’s $300 million+ salary for 2024 is unsustainable going forward.
But he mentioned that in May, so things could have altered since then. And if they don’t get Soto, everything is possible for the Bombers.
