The New York Yankees made the second-largest offer ever to a professional athlete when their final bid of $760 million over 16 years landed in free agent outfielder Juan Soto’s lap last weekend. They were outbid only because the Mets made Soto the largest offer ever: $765 million over 15 years.
While Yankees fans can quibble over whether outlandish performance bonuses, opt-out clauses and use of a private suite should have been included in their bid for Soto, a more important question remains: what will the Yankees do with all that leftover cash? More news: Yankees Make Trade, Acquire Two-Time All-Star Pitcher
On the same day he acquired closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in a blockbuster trade, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed to reporters he has spoken to the agent for free agent third baseman Alex Bregman – a logical choice for the team’s next offseason target.
Writing on Twitter/X, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com said Cashman called Bregman “a thorn in our sides for years, along with a lot of other peoples’ sides.” “He’s now into free agency and I’m sure he’s got a whole boatload of choices,” Cashman said, via Hoch. “Really good players like him make a lot of money.” Bregman, 30, is arguably the best free agent position player still on the market after Soto and shortstop Willy Adames finalized new contracts with the Mets and Giants, respectively.
According to multiple reports, the Astros have offered to bring Bregman back on a six-year deal worth about $156 million. Bregman is seeking a deal worth at least $200 million, according to multiple reports, and is likely to get it as Soto’s failed suitors pivot to their next targets.
The Yankees had difficulty filling the third-base position last season until they acquired Jazz Chisholm from the Miami Marlins. Although Chisholm had relatively little experience at the hot corner prior to the trade, he shifted over and helped the Yankees reach the World Series for the first time since 2009.
More news: Yankees on No-Trade List, But Would Get Permission to Acquire Star: Report In 2025, Chisholm seems likely to shift back to the middle infield. Bregman, a Gold Glove Award winner at third base, would present an upgrade on both offense and defense for nearly any team that signs him. Since the Astros made him the second overall MLB draft pick in 2015, Bregman has accrued 39.6 Wins Above Replacement across parts of nine seasons in Houston, according to Baseball Reference, slashing .272/.366/.483.
More news: Yankees Sign Free Agent Pitcher to Bolster Bullpen: Report In the postseason, Bregman has slashed .238/.346/.443 in 99 games, coinciding with the longest stretch of success in the history of the Astros franchise. His co-star, second baseman Jose Altuve, spoke openly about wanting Bregman back after the Astros’ sudden elimination after two Wild Card games in October. “He gave a lot to this organization,” Altuve told reporters, via ESPN. “Now it’s time for us, as a team, as an organization, to pay him back and make him stay here.” Now, the Astros have confirmed competition from at least one big-market suitor. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
