Tigers get positive update on Alex Bregman's free agent status

Tigers get positive update on Alex Bregman's free agent status originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Detroit Tigers were linked to Boston Red Sox All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman at the trade deadline. While the Red Sox were hot and were far from sellers, the Tigers' interest in Bregman was enough to monitor them come the offseason.

If Detroit is looking to bolster the offense and is still interested in Bregman, they will have to hope he opts out of his $40 million 2026 player option. According to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports, Bregman could hit the open market. 

"Bregman will presumably take advantage after a season that has him on pace to set new career-high marks in both pulled fly ball rate and hard-hit percentage (up nearly seven percentage points from last year) -- if only to land a longer term." Anderson writes.

If the Tigers can join the Bregman free agent sweepstakes, then a potential deal is well within the cards for Detroit. They need a new third baseman, and Bregman would be an incredible pickup for such a role.

Bregman hitting free agency would mean he's turning down $40 million per season to look for a longer-term deal. Detroit would have to make a massive commitment to Bregman, but the Tigers, with a lot of young prospects coming up through the system, have the financial leeway to swing such a huge deal.

MORE: Tigers lost out to Mets on trade for Cardinals' Ryan Helsley

While the ownership group could decide not to spend big, if they do, Bregman is likely one of the options they could use their money on. As Anderson mentioned, Bregman is setting new career highs in two key statistics.

Those two, while not as prominent as OPS or batting average, indicate that not only is Bregman hitting the ball as hard as he's done in his career, but he's also pulling the ball. The two combine to create an environment for more home runs from Bregman.

Even though Bregman is 31 years old, the Tigers should be willing to spend a fortune on Bregman in the offseason. He'd dramatically improve the Tigers' offense, and this article from Anderson opens the door to Bregman hitting free agency.

After a lackluster trade deadline, the Tigers front office, led by Scott Harris, could get back in the good graces of the Tigers fandom by signing Bregman in the offseason. It'll cost a lot, but Bregman would be a huge boost to the offense, while shoring up the third base spot for the years to come.

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