Is a veteran reliever the important thing to the nonetheless gummed-up marketplace for free-agent infielders? That could be the case, peculiar because it sounds. Allow us to clarify.
The Chicago Cubs have reportedly agreed to purchase high-leverage bullpenner Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros in trade for right-hander Juan Bello. The Astros are together with $5.5 million money within the deal to defray a part of Pressly’s $14 million dedication for 2025, the ultimate 12 months of his contract. The query in Houston proper about now’s whether or not the membership will put these financial savings again into the roster.
That, tidily sufficient, brings us to Astros lifer Alex Bregman, who stays on the free-agent market. Bregman is of curiosity to the Detroit Tigers, Boston Pink Sox, and maybe Toronto Blue Jays. Nonetheless, it is the incumbent Astros who’re of accelerating word on the Bregman entrance. Bregman gave the impression to be sure elsewhere after turning down a reported $156 million extension supply from Houston. A parting appeared much more probably after the Astros signed Christian Walker to man first base after which acquired Isaac Paredes as a part of the Kyle Tucker commerce with Chicago. That gave Houston a full infield and appeared to mark an finish to Bregman’s time in Houston. Maybe, although, issues have modified.
On Saturday, previous to information of the Pressly commerce (and certain earlier than the settlement was finalized), Astros common supervisor Dana Brown mentioned this of a attainable Bregman reunion, which as famous not so way back appeared unimaginable:
“I might say [the door is] cracked. The truth that he is nonetheless out there, it simply makes it attention-grabbing. Like ‘man, this man is such participant, he is performed so many great issues right here.’ We’ll stick to the cracked door and see the place our conversations lead.”
And what of the crowded infield scenario in Houston? Franchise legend Jose Altuve is right here to assist. This is this from the The Athletic:
“Altuve is keen to do something to maintain Bregman, even go away his middle-infield place. The face of Houston’s franchise acknowledged on Saturday he’s keen to maneuver off of second base — and perhaps into the outfield — to accommodate a reunion with Bregman.”
Altuve can be poised to shift to left discipline, which might permit Paredes to play second base and Bregman to be put in again at third base. At this level and given the late hour of the offseason, a Bregman return to Houston looks as if the most probably end result. That, then, brings us to Nolan Arenado.
The St. Louis Cardinals are within the midst of a self-described “reset,” wherein they’re centered on constructing out the uncared for player-development equipment within the minors and creating function house for youthful gamers within the majors. Already they’ve permitted Paul Goldschmidt to depart through free company, they usually’re declined membership choices on Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, and Keynan Middleton. Of their veterans with no-trade clauses – Sonny Grey, Willson Contreras, Miles Mikolas, and Arenado – solely Arenado has expressed a willingness to be dealt at the moment. Earlier within the offseason, the Cardinals and Astros had been in settlement on a swap that may’ve despatched Arenado to Houston, however he blocked it through that full no-trade provision in his contract.
So the place does that go away Arenado? If Bregman does certainly return to Houston, then that creates a possibility in Boston. Arenado is reportedly keen to approve a deal to the Pink Sox, and the Pink Sox for his or her half are reported to favor a shorter dedication than the one Bregman will probably command. Arenado, meantime, is beneath contract by way of 2027, which is able to most likely be about half so long as no matter contract Bregman finally indicators. On the cash entrance, Arenado is owed $74 million over these three seasons. Nonetheless, his former crew the Colorado Rockies are on the hook for $10 million of that tally, and the Cardinals of their earlier talks with the Astros had been reportedly keen to pay down $15-20 million of what Arenado is owed.
On one other stage, Arenado’s pull-heavy method on the plate can be theoretical match for Fenway and the Inexperienced Monster and would possibly assist him stave off what seems to be offensive decline. Arenado stays a standout fielder at third base and for Boston would represent a big defensive improve over Rafael Devers. Devers by way of his agent scoffed on the thought of a shift throughout the diamond to first base, and initially the Pink Sox pushed again in opposition to reviews that they had been pondering such a dialogue. Nonetheless, this is what supervisor Alex Cora mentioned concerning the Devers scenario at Fenway Fest earlier in January (through MassLive):
“If we’ve to have conversations about positions, we’ll have these conversations. I do know there’s plenty of speak about third basemen or second basemen. Earlier than we get to that time, we’ll discuss to Raffy. That is the best way it’s. That is the best way I function. I’ve seen conditions across the league the place they’re very late on that entrance. The participant does not prefer it and takes it private. However I feel we’ll do it the correct method. However proper now, there is not any conversations. We have not talked to Raffy about transferring positions. Raffy Devers is our third baseman.”
There are other ways to parse this, however Cora’s phrases actually appear to indicate a willingness to speak to Devers a couple of place change ought to exterior circumstances demand. There was discuss that Bregman would man second for Boston, however that is probably not a chance for Arenado, which might necessitate a glove-for-mitt change for Devers. The Pink Sox are already the very best theoretical match for Arenado given the issues of buying and selling him out of St. Louis, and that is particularly the case if Bregman goes again to Houston.
A remaining, albeit much less direct consequence of the above has to do with Pete Alonso. The free-agent slugger has encountered a tender market to date, which has put a return to the New York Mets, the place he is spent his whole skilled profession up to now, again in play. To make certain, the 2 sides don’t appear significantly near an settlement, however they’re speaking. As nicely, an Alonso-Mets reunion appears extra attainable now than it has in a very long time. What would possibly make it extra attainable? The 2 names above lastly discovering touchdown spots.
The Mets have been linked to Bregman this winter, albeit not as strongly because the main contenders. A signing of Bregman would permit the Mets to maneuver Mark Vientos off third base, the place he is fairly stretched defensively, and put in at first base. A Mets commerce for Arenado, which, once more, does not appear probably, would obtain the identical – i.e., a transfer for Vientos and a brand new presence at third base. Each of these hypotheticals probably remove the potential for an Alonso return, which in flip means the exits of Bregman and Arenado from their respective markets make an Alonso return to Queens maybe extra probably. Certain, the Mets might go forward and shift Vientos to first and see if Brett Baty can lastly stage up with the bat and pin down the new nook, however that is a dangerous proposition for a crew that is closely invested in a deep playoff run after inking Juan Soto.
This late within the winter, the standing remnants of the free-agent and commerce markets may be likened to an eight-beers-deep match of Jenga. The elimination of even probably the most innocuous seeming piece – we’ll name that piece “Ryan Pressly” – can reverberate by way of all the construction. That may simply be the case right here insofar as names like Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado, and Pete Alonso are involved. As at all times, all hail the load-bearing reliever.
