“Yankees and Mets Set to Battle for More Than Just Juan Soto in High-Stakes Free Agency Showdown”
Could the Yankees and Mets be in competition for more than just Juan Soto in free agency this offseason? One MLB insider suggests it’s possible, with Houston Astros’ third baseman Alex Bregman being a potential target as he enters the final year of his contract.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the market for third basemen is shaping up to be intriguing. Besides the Astros and Giants, teams like the Mariners, Diamondbacks, and Yankees (assuming they shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base to replace Gleyber Torres) might have a need at third base. The Mets could also be in the mix if they decide that Mark Vientos isn’t their long-term solution.
After a slow start to the season where Bregman posted a 92 OPS+, the 30-year-old has picked up his performance since the All-Star break, boasting a .280/.327/.560 line (129 OPS+) with seven home runs and 12 RBIs, helping the Astros secure a 2.5-game lead in the AL West. Overall, Bregman has a 114 OPS+ on the season with a .261/.318/.445 line, 19 home runs, and 59 RBIs.
Juan Soto, expected to test free agency, could command a record-breaking contract exceeding $500 million. While Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has expressed a desire to retain Soto long-term, and Mets owner Steve Cohen, the wealthiest in baseball, has also been linked to him, Bregman’s situation adds an interesting wrinkle.
Despite improvements, Vientos is likely not a full-time third baseman, and Chisholm, though capable at third, is better suited to center field or second base. Bregman, who is finishing a five-year, $100 million contract, will likely seek a much larger and longer deal. However, despite his consistent offensive production and two World Series titles, Bregman is considered a risky player due to his reliance on soft skills like a low chase rate and strikeout rate, rather than elite batted ball metrics. Additionally, he is not regarded as an elite defender.