Alex Bregman Drawing New Interest, But What’s Really Going On With the Blue Jays?
As the MLB offseason stretches into late December, the market around Alex Bregman is starting to heat up-at least on the surface. Over the past week, a couple of new teams have entered the mix for the veteran third baseman, and while that might sound like a typical free-agent storyline, there’s a bit more intrigue bubbling beneath the surface.
Let’s start with Arizona. The Diamondbacks were reportedly showing interest in Bregman around mid-December, just as word was spreading that his market might not be as robust as initially expected.
That timing raised some eyebrows, especially considering Arizona’s current roster situation. On paper, the D-backs’ interest tracks if you factor in the possibility of Ketel Marte being moved in a trade.
If that scenario plays out, Bregman could slide in as a veteran bat and clubhouse presence for a team that just made a deep postseason run.
But the bigger surprise came over the weekend, when reports surfaced that the Toronto Blue Jays had entered the Bregman conversation. It’s not a name that had been linked to Toronto earlier in the offseason, and the sudden emergence of their interest has sparked plenty of questions.
Why now? What’s the real motivation here?
That’s where MLB insider Robert Murray offered an interesting theory during a recent appearance on Foul Territory. According to Murray, the Blue Jays’ reported interest in Bregman might not be entirely about Bregman himself. Instead, it could be a calculated move to put pressure on their current star shortstop, Bo Bichette.
“A Bichette reunion is very much on the table with them,” Murray said. “It’s something that they would like.
He’s obviously a homegrown player there, someone that they know inside and out. To me, I think that fit makes a whole lot of sense for them.”
That’s not exactly breaking news-Bichette is a cornerstone player in Toronto, and keeping him in the fold has always been a priority. But Murray floated the idea that the Bregman rumors could be more than just a Plan B.
They might be a strategic nudge. “Part of me wonders, okay, maybe that is real, or maybe that’s trying to pressure a guy like Bichette into seeing that and being like, ‘Oh, crap, maybe I have to take their offer now,’” Murray added.
It’s a fascinating wrinkle in what’s becoming one of the more layered storylines of the offseason. Bichette, 27, is four years younger than Bregman and arguably has more long-term value, both on the field and as a face of the franchise. He’s been linked to the Red Sox as well, with Boston reportedly keeping tabs on his availability even before the Bregman-to-Toronto talk started gaining traction.
For most of the offseason, the expectation was that both Bichette and Bregman would re-sign with their current teams without much drama. But as we’ve seen time and again in free agency, plans can shift quickly-especially when leverage and timing come into play.
Whether Toronto’s interest in Bregman is genuine or part of a larger negotiation tactic, one thing’s clear: the Blue Jays are making moves, or at least making noise. And in an offseason that’s already seen its fair share of surprises, this situation is worth watching closely. Because if either Bregman or Bichette ends up in a new uniform this winter, it would send ripple effects across the league.