As pitchers and catchers begin to report, the conversations around the remaining free agents take on a different kind of urgency. No player wants to have a shortened spring training. No free agent wants to remain unsure of where he will be playing and living into February.
As that urgency to sign increases, demands from players and agents must change, as must their willingness to negotiate with teams.
The top available free agent is undeniably Alex Bregman, who entered this offseason in pursuit of a $200 million offer. The largest reported offer that has come Bregman’s way is a $156 million contract for six years from the Houston Astros. Reports this week indicated the Astros have increased that offer, but it is still unlikely to get the deal done.
“He still seeks a long term contract,” said Robert Murray on the “Baseball Insiders” podcast. “But at this point of the offseason I am pretty skeptical that he’ll ultimately end up getting it.”
Murray would go on to say that a short-term deal that allows Bregman to reenter free agency next offseason may be the best move for him now.
Pete Alonso recently took such a deal, agreeing to a two-year $54 million contract with the New York Mets that includes a player option after the first year. A similar deal would have Bregman enter the free agent market next year at 31 years old with a year to prove his value, and give the market an opportunity to reset.
But if Bregman is going to accept that kind of offer, he has very little time to do so before spring training is in full swing.
“We could see a decent amount of movement this week,” Murray went on to say, “and maybe, just maybe, that could include Alex Bregman.”
In addition to the Astros, Bregman is reportedly garnering interest from the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox.
More MLB: Red Sox Waiting Out Alex Bregman As Slugger Remains Unsigned, Per MLB Insider
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