DETROIT – One of the top insiders for MLB free agency reported some info about the rumors surrounding the Detroit Tigers and Alex Bregman.
Detroit has been linked to Bregman throughout the offseason because of its need for a third baseman, a right-handed bat, and a veteran. There have also been reports suggesting preliminary interest from both sides.
Even though the Tigers made a magical run to the second round of the playoffs last year, their roster still has several holes to fill. One of the biggest questions is third base, and since the Tigers aren’t going to sign several high-profile free agents, they might as well try to check off multiple needs with one signing.
Bregman could do that.
While he’s not necessarily an elite power hitter -- and the Crawford Boxes in Houston definitely helped his home run numbers over the years -- Bregman hit a solid 23, 25, and 26 home runs each of the past three seasons.
If he had played all of his games at Comerica Park, Bregman would have hit 21, 24, and 21 homers, according to Statcast. His projections in Cleveland and Kansas City -- two places the Tigers visit frequently -- were even lower.
But Bregman is a very reliable defender at third base and displays elite plate discipline -- ranking in the 94th and 98th percentiles in strikeout percentage and whiff rate, respectively.
The hard-hit metrics are average, and Bregman is already 30 years old, so he’s not a can’t-miss prospect like Juan Soto. The gap between his asking price and what teams are hoping to pay is why he didn’t sign immediately after Soto’s $700 million deal became official.
In the wake of the winter meetings, ESPN’s Jeff Passan -- one of the most dialed-in reporters when it comes to MLB -- posted a comprehensive overview of where teams and players stand at this point in the offseason.
His breakdown of Bregman’s free agency touched on the Tigers.
“The Tigers have a need for top-end talent and a connection through manager A.J. Hinch, under whom Bregman played for five years,” Passan wrote.
Passan also included the Tigers among a group of eight teams with the payroll flexibility to seriously pursue Bregman, alongside the Yankees, Astros, Mets, Red Sox, Giants, Blue Jays, and Orioles.
Click here to read Passan’s full article (it requires an ESPN+ subscription).
This isn’t exactly a bombshell update from Passan, but even if you don’t want the Tigers to sign Bregman, it’s encouraging to see them mentioned among the contenders for an expensive free agent.
The Tigers have preferred to nickel and dime their way through free agency since the disastrous Javier Baez signing in 2021. Sometimes that works out beautifully (see: Jack Flaherty). But more often than not it takes a bigger fish to push a team over the hump.
Alex Cobb is fine, for example, but nobody expects him to lead the Tigers to the World Series.
What the Tigers did with young bats and relief pitchers was incredible last season, but that’s not sustainable over 162 games. To build on last year, they need to supplement their young roster with some proven players via free agency or trade.
Whether that materializes in Bregman or a more creative move, it feels like the Tigers are gearing up for a bigger splash between now and Opening Day.
