Potential Free Agent for the Yankees Alex Bregman is the target.
Everybody has had that person in their lives who is crazy on Friday nights, but you won’t be bringing him home for Christmas. That guy’s name was Marcus to me, and Alex Bregman may be that guy’s baseball counterpart. I hoped the Yankees would sign the two-time All-Star for the majority of the first half of 2024, when it appeared the Houston Astros could finally be vulnerable.
The Astros recovered, so that didn’t happen. Now, Bregman is searching for that one big contract in free agency. Even while I may be persuaded to spend the weekend at his house since I adore him as a boy on a Friday night, I find it difficult to commit to something meaningful.
Bregman has inhabited this peculiar position where he is both directly in your face and slightly underappreciated. His 135 wRC+ since the beginning of 2016 is superior to that of another 2024–25 free agent and on par with José RamÃrez and Corey Seager.
The Yankees would be able to better utilize Jazz’s natural athleticism and ability to play second, short, third, and presumably all three outfield positions if they added Bregman to the lineup. Bregman is predicted by wRC+ to be ten points better than the apparent incumbent third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. in 2025. This is important because it would give the team another option to get Aaron Judge out of center (more on that next week).
I thus adore Alex Bregman in pinstripes for 2024 and 2025. Heck, I’ll even be a buyer in 2026, assuming a typical decline for a man who will only be 31. At age 31, LeMahieu’s career started to wane; the same was true for the renowned Nolan Arenado. That’s about when men begin to chip away at the excess value that initially makes long-term contracts attractive for players who aren’t Aaron Judge. Bregman earned four victories this season, and I believe he will do it again next year. However, MLB Trade Rumors projects a seven-year, $182 million contract, which is likely to be undercut very early if you’re only winning four games in the first year.Alonso, Pete. More specifically, since DJ LeMahieu’s final truly impressive season in the COVID-shortened 2020, the Yankees have only mustered a 106 wRC+ from the hot corner.
