Add the Blue Jays to the list of potential suitors for free agent Alex Bregman. Toronto officials have been in contact with Scott Boras, the third baseman’s agent, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Red Sox, Cubs, and Diamondbacks have also been connected to Bregman.
Toronto has already been a major player in free agency this offseason, though the additions have come on the pitching side. The club snagged one of the top starters on the market in right-hander Dylan Cease. They locked down reliever Tyler Rogers on a three-year deal. In a year with several intriguing arms arriving from overseas, the Blue Jays landed one of the highest-upside options in Cody Ponce. Toronto has been tied to some of the biggest bats on the market, including Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, and Bo Bichette. Bregman now joins that esteemed group.
Boston is reportedly pushing for a Bregman reunion. The third baseman opted out of a three-year, $120MM deal with the club after one season. He had a strong campaign with the Red Sox, providing middle-of-the-order thump to go with steady glove work. Chicago is back in the mix after coming up short last year. The Cubs reportedly offered Bregman a four-year deal this past offseason, though the total value fell short of his agreement with the Red Sox. The Diamondbacks recently joined the race for Bregman. Arizona seems like a long shot to land the stud free agent, but the club does have a vacancy after trading Eugenio Suárez at the deadline.
Toronto’s current plan at third base seems to be a combination of Addison Barger, Ernie Clement, and Davis Schneider. Clement will be penciled in at second base with Bichette hitting the market. Barger is the top option for third base duties, at least against righties. Schneider could pick up second base reps against lefties, with Clement sliding to third. Infielders JoJo Parker and Arjun Nimmala are among Toronto’s top prospects, though they’re unlikely to contribute at the big-league level for a few more years.
The Blue Jays’ third basemen ranked 10th in OPS last season. Clement and Barger split the role fairly evenly, with Will Wagner and Isiah Kiner-Falefa occasionally mixing in. Barger emerged as a crucial cog in the middle of the lineup, launching 21 home runs in his first extended stint at the highest level. Clement bounced around the infield, seeing time at all four spots. He played in a career-high 157 games, providing league-average numbers at the plate. Clement also set a postseason record with 30 hits. Third base isn’t a position that seems like a glaring weakness, but a longer-term view of the roster makes Bregman a more sensible fit. George Springer and Daulton Varsho are both free agents after 2026. Their potential departures would open up outfield and DH opportunities for Barger, Schneider, and company.
While Clement and Barger are solid players, Toronto would have no issue reshuffling the lineup to make room for an addition like Bregman. The 31-year-old has a career 133 wRC+. After three straight seasons with at least 23 home runs, Bregman hit 18 in 114 games in his lone season in Boston. A quad strain cost him a month and a half, but he was on track to maintain his standard power numbers. Bregman was worth +3 Outs Above Average this past year. He’s now at +18 over the last five seasons.
The additions of Cease and Rogers, among others, pushed Toronto’s estimated payroll to roughly $272MM, per RosterResource. That’s already $14MM above the club’s 2025 mark. It’s well beyond the Blue Jays’ $217MM payroll from 2024. It’s a new level of spending for a squad that fell just short of bringing home a title this past year.
Photo courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images
I’m interested in Bregman as well…but only as a friend
Are you willing to pay him to be your friend? How much?
Chau – Couple days ago Breggy posted an IG video of him working out with Torkelson.
Such a good guy. Always willing to take the trash out
On the contrary, if I’m gonna be a friend of Bregman, he needs to pay me. I am currently 40 years old so deferred payments for the next 25 years. If I don’t make it to 65, since I do not have kids, I will be allowed to name any 2 next to kins of my choice. 250K a year for 25 years and. Every 5 years payments double after 20 years they triples
And if Bregman is inducted into any hall of fame. Whether it’s MLB HOF, Astros HoF. Or if he’s not already undecided into the college HOF. Maybe even LSU if they have one, if that happens either myself or my next to kin gets trash can full of $100 bills. Money amount unknown.
That Bregman sure is an interesting guy
Sounds like more Boras BS.
If Heyman wrote it, I’d agree. Rosenthal reporting gives it a little more merit. Guessing Jay’s are mostly interested in driving the price up for Boston.
I keep seeing and hearing this rumor. Seems like anybody they really want or feel they really need to sign they can and maybe will pony up the cash to get it done.
I say let ‘em. I say sign Bregman for like 5 years/$190M, sign Tucker for 10 years/$425M.
Saddle yourselves with immovable monstrosities of albatrosses!
Albatross contracts until they aren’t. Add Bregman, Tucker and bring back Bichette and rear-end load the contracts. Put the Dodgers on notice. Why wait a year to replace expiring contacts, do it now while worthies are available. Rogers is the wealthiest owner in Baseball; show it, as you did with Guererro contract.
pingston: Put the Dodgers on notice? On notice of what and what does that even mean?
Rest assured that the Dodgers are not concerned with any team’s transactions other than their own.
You’ve got that backwards. AAV will hurtt the Jays all the same.
But if you *front load* the deal, in later years you owe small salaries wit big CBT hits. So many club dont get within 50 or even 100m of the citing, you could move those non performing years, opening big chunks of.cbt in the process. Relatively easy
Put the Dodgers on notice to get revenge on another Trashtros cheater?
425M for Tucker is insane. Just bring back Bo at $200M or whatever he gets at 2B.
It’s more Bichette’s decision than the Jays, depending on where he wants to play.
You can get Bregman and Bichette for less than what Tucker will cost. Only problem is no lefty bat.
To be honest I’d go Bichette and Bellinger. Barger and Bellinger in the corner spots. Clement 3rd, Bo second. Lineup of:
Springer
Bellinger
Vladdy
Bo
Barger
Kirk
Varsho
Clement
Gimenez
Great defence, great offence, great lineup balance.
Makes the most sense
Keep smoking that stuff. They won’t sign both Bellinger and Bichette.
Why not? If they’re willing to pony up 400 mil for Tucker, why not spend less and get two all star caliber players in positions of need and kill two birds with the one stone. Say 200 for Bo over 7 years, and 160 for Bellinger over 6 years. Much cheaper and better cash management.
@BeenThereDoneIt
Barger in the OF wouldn’t be described as great defense.
Cannon of an arm and the more reps he got out there the better he got. I’ll take that all day long.
@BeenThereDoneIt
He’s going to need more than a cannon of an arm to even be an average defender in the OF… Like running good routes, sprint speed, and good first steps. There is no evidence to suggest that he’s getting better with reps.
You can if you trade Santander. Send him to a team like Pittsburgh that’s looking for a power bat, throw in $10 M or so if they overpaid last year.
Saint, I think Barger’s routes would improve if given time to prepare as an outfielder. However, if Bellinger is looking for 400-mil (a rumour), then he’s not signing anytime soon.
Besides, the scenario BeenThere has, I’d rather Barger at 3B, Lukes in the outfield, Gimenez on the bench, choose a SS between Bo and Clement. Before people jump on me for this suggestion, Jays were rolling with Bo at short until his injury. Jays were also rolling while Gimenez was injured. Would be fine with Clement being at short if not Bo.
10 million. With Santander and the Pirates you would need to eat like 95% of what is left to move him
Barger had positive defensive value both this year and last year in RF according to Statcast and my eye test. Guys are going on like he’s Stanton out there.
I can’t imagine they’ll have Santander coming off the bench
Say 200 for Bo over 7 years, and 160 for Bellinger over 6 years.
====================
Baseball works on AAVs. Bo & Bell would cost $55M v $40M for Tucker. Plus the CBT issue.
BeenThereDoneIt: Just toss out whatever numbers you want since we know that all these guys are just falling all over themselves to play in Toronto as if it’s their only option.
Sure it’s a great city and the Jays are a good team, but so are other cities and teams.
You sound like a lot of Yankees fans.
Where did I say that? I offered a scenario and that’s it. It goes with the assumption that they maybe would sign with the Jays. Never once said that it was a guarantee. I said it’s what I would do.
And his baserunning leaves a lot to be desired too
Jeff Passan reported that there was a decent chance they would sign both. If he’s reporting it, then they must have a shot. He generally doesn’t do BS rumors. If it was someone like Heyman or Rosenthal, then I’d be far more skeptical.
He played really well in the OF during the playoffs.
@itshappening. Also a viable scenario although I’m not sure how they keep a 20 million dollar player on the bench who happens to be a platinum glove level player.
Why because of one play? He’s an all out player who made a mistake. You can almost guarantee that will never happen again.
@MuleorAstroMule
Barger had a -4 DRS and OAA in 400 inning last year in the OF. That can’t be considered “good”.
Very easy. “Gimenez go take a seat.”
One, he can’t hit. Two, his platinum came at 2B and not a short. Three, 2026 is a World Series year, and if he’s not good enough to be in the starting 9 he should be a backup, salary included.
In ’24 and ’25 Santander put up -9 and -4 OAA in 1200+ innings. Springer had -8 and -7 in the same period in roughly the same innings. Barger would have to get a lot better to be as bad as either of them.
Varsho had a -11 DRS in 550 innings at catcher. He hasn’t played there since ’20. Since the end of his catching days he put up 88 DRS in 4000 innings in the OF. Sometimes you just have to throw in the towel and say this guy can’t play this position.
@JoeBrady For one year, but after 2026 they have a lot of money coming off the books. If they sign Bellinger on top of Bo they won’t have to get anybody to replace Springer. They can just plug Santander into the DH spot.
If they just sign Tucker when Springer is an FA, they’re going to need resign him or get another bat to replace the lost production.
Bo is likely getting offers in the 10/330M range, which is why the Jays havent re-signed him yet.
No chance he is going to be above 220
His sprint speed is above average, his range isn’t great, but when you have Varsho beside you it really doesn’t need to be. And yes his arm is in the top 1% of 1%. There is plenty of evidence that he was getting better with reps. The first 50% of games played he had a -.8 runs saved. The last 50% he had a +1.2 runs saved. So your assertion that there is no evidence is utterly false. He was actually a beast in the playoffs defensively.
No he isn’t, come on now.
This is how deals are announced in today’s world. 10/330, with the NPV being like $27M/yr
Yes bucsfanooo team give players with multiple lower body injuries 10 years $330-mil. The GM that gives Bo a 10-year deal should be fired unless the owner overrules it and offers 10-years to Bichette.
Bo isn’t getting offers anywhere close to that. If he was, he would already be signed. All signs point to the idea that his market has not really been going well. He recently announced that he was willing to play second base. A shortstop wouldn’t need do that if he was getting great offers like that. It was widely reported he was doing that because his market wasn’t developing like he hoped.
@BeenThereDoneIt
I’ve been to Savant, fangraphs, and BR. Where are you getting the splits of runs saved as a percentage? I would love to see that data.
I’m simply saying thats how teams announce deals…. its bloated for many reasons. Take your Santander for example. His deal is like 5/70 not the announced deal of 5/92. Ohtani’s deal was announced 10/700, but we all know the net present value makes it like 10/460. Bo’s deal will be the same
* and if his market is really not going well, you can be sure the announced deal will be 40%-ish more than what the present value of the contract actually is. So i stand by my $300M announced deal for him
Blue Jays decided to have themselves an off-season
Blue jays talking up bregman is just inflating his cost. Red sox doing the same with bichette.
sox interst in bichette should be legitimate not just to drive up the cost
Same for jays and bregman tbh
I read a report a while back that the Red Sox were out on Bo unless his market drastically changed. It kind of sounded like his asking price was above what they were willing to pay.
and a report the day before that said the sox and Bichette had a great meeting. Either way Bichette is still on the market is young and fills a need. Sox should be willing to pay him .
Could also be a sign Bichette or Tucker bidding has exceeded their models.
Maybe, or else they are sending a signal to Bo that they are willing to roll with Bregman.
It really should have been mentioned in the article the Jays pursued Bregman last offseason too, reportedly offering a 6-year $160M contract.
I think now this is more of a message being sent by the Jays to the Sox, that if the Sox sign Bo then they may have to face Bregman up to 20 times each season (13 regular season and 7 in the ALCS). Seems like the “interest” from Toronto is being used as a deterrent, and also to drive up the price on Breggy Beer Man.
It’s a tough call for the Sox because both players have been injury-prone.
Bichette not injury prone. Injured last year. This year was hurt when 2rd base coach sent him home in a bad judgement ca;;. Bo did what he was told but there was no plate path… However, let’s hope the Sox think that way.
Sox ownership has some dark clouds on financial horizon, hence their imminent sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their NASCAR investment may be hurting, too… Toronto ownership properties not as volatile.
ping – I agree with your last paragraph, but not your first paragraph.
He missed 31 games in 2020, and 27 games in 2023.
That’s 4 out of the past 6 season where he’s missed significant time.
Fever- I guess the question is does his potential out way the risks. I assume Bo’s age makes him more appealing for a long term contract than Bregman. I just don’t see the Sox paying what it is going to take to sign either of them unless the market value is inflated and they are not going to get the contract they want.
Uncle – I would never give a 9-figure contract based on potential.
Production and health, that’s what makes them worth 9 figures.
Fever- The Sox seem to be willing to take chances with players having an injury history, but likely not for what Bo is going to cost.
I do think Bo could put up some impressive numbers in Fenway and maybe with the correct workout routine the injuries will be less of a concern. Granted the Sox do tend to get more than their share of injuries so that may be asking too much.
Dark clouds? FSG bought the Penguins for $900M and in less than 4 years they will sell for $1.7B to $1.8B. Looks like they were made an offer they couldn’t refuse.
pingston: Wouldn’t it be a riot if the Jays didn’t end up with Bichette or Bregman? 🤣
And they ‘settle’ for Tucker. 🤣
Wouldn’t it be a riot if you weren’t such an antagonistic vaunting tr0ll?
Aww thanks. But I’ve been called worse by better people.
I think the WAY bigger RIOT would be if Boston didn’t end up with either…. AND I MEAN THERE WOULD BE RIOTS!!!
No legit #2 or bigtime power bat as fans were led to believe. Add losing Bregman in a lineup that was already thin with him in it and lacked threats and you would have fans that are already jaded on all things Sox finally snapping on the team.
After years of “sustained consistent winning” as the team catch phrase and public philosophy while blatantly building non-competitive rosters, I don’t think the fan base will let it slide anymore. This is the actual potential first year of that competitive window they talked about for 5 years.
william-2: Is the offseason over yet or do you just get off by panicking?
I think the Sox could end up with some of the other available players by trade or free agency and ease the fan’s frustration. There are some decent bats available beyond Bregman and Bo. If they do nothing or bring in a useless player then the fans are going to be very upset.
Not panicking, and there is time for options B through Z. Just saying where we are atm without more options coming off the table.
There are about nine premier hitters still available in free agency, and nobody will sign after tomorrow until January.
@alfred Says the guy who was just predicting the same thing for the Blue Jays?.
Jaysfansince92: And?
Alfred-I would not be surprised if the Sox are more focused on trades, but who knows. Why are you setting the cutoff as tomorrow? The holidays? You are likely correct that the big name hitters are not going to be signing for a while, but they would make quite the Christmas gift for some team’s fans.
I am not giving up yet. While I doubt they will meet Bergman’s asking price, I do think they will make some upgrades.
Pingston, Bo hurt his knee with a month left in 2023. Injuries throughout 2024. Injured knee again September 2025.
Three years in a row. Same lower body issues. Injury prone.
This isn’t true . Blue jays did not offer Bregman the 6/160 – it was the tigers . Nightengale said on his socials he got it wrong, do to conflicting reports .
Jobba – You might be right about the Jays, but it was widely reported the Tigers offered $171.5M
“Last year, the Detroit Tigers offered Alex Bregman a six-year, $171.5 million deal. He reportedly asked for an opt-out in that deal after 2025, but the Tigers were only willing to put the opt-out after 2026. Bregman then asked for the Tigers to up the total money on the deal, but they declined.”
Their payroll for CBT purposes is now $294M, just a touch short of the highest threshhold, and the maximum tax level. If the Jays go there they better have some success next year.
He’s willing to play 2B. I know of a team that happens to be looking for a 2B right now.
Boras trying to make it seem like there is more interest than there is.
No no no. Go back to Boston. Jays just resign Bo!
I think it would be funny if the Jays get neither guy.
Al – They get Tucker or Belli instead? They’re gonna get someone fo sho.
Let’s see. A choice between a solid bat and an excellent glove versus a solid bat and an iron glove. Yes of course, go with Bo, that would be smart…..not.
Enjoying Walker much?
Bregman is a guy who used to be an excellent glove but is in decline and may soon turn into a negative value glove, coming off the second lowest WAR of his career and 3rd consecutive year of WAR decline, turning 32 and expending a very long contract term. I’d much rather overpay Bo, at least he’s a feel-good story and keeps the team chemistry.
Bregman is a lot older than Bo. I would take Bo over him in a heartbeat.
Fair enough…..
This would be ideal.
Wait until hear the agents demands. It will be back off bugaloo time faster than you can say “Holy Diver”
As a Jays fan, I really don’t want Bregman. It has to be either Bo or Tucker. Anything else is a let down.
It has to be two guys to show any improvement over last year. Adding Bregman is just recreating what was a thin lineup with no real threats in it. We have guys that can hit homeruns when they put a perfect wing on it. We don’t have any game changers that quality pitchers really worry about hurting them potentially every time they are at bat.
We have a few “can hurt you if you make mistakes.” No real “may hurt you every time he lifts it into the outfield.”
William – He was talking about the Jays. 😆
But you’re right about the Sox. They were 27th in MLB in homers after Raffy was salary dumped. Very difficult to win in the postseason without power. Abreu and Casas could help if they are healthy and not traded. I’d rather Roman continue his excellent OBP rather than sacrifice it for more power.
And for the love of God Rafaela needs to stop swinging for the fences. He is not Mookie. He never will be.
I hope the jays make him an offer he can’t refuse. They sign him,then jr can take him out for a few Bradors,then off to the Old maple leaf garden and a few laps around the rink. Sure would be swell.
Someone should put a “lid” on the six year contract rumors.
As a Mariners fan, would love for the Blue Jays to sign Bregman to a FAT six year $180 million dollar max it all out contract. They can then sign Tucker as well to a ridiculous max the credit card out $400 million dollar deal over 8 years. After that though, they better calm down. Which means they won’t sign Bo. (While I’m dreaming Bo can sign with the Mariners to play second base.)
Damn everyone is using Jays to inflate numbers. I heard Imai was also connected to them. They can sign all of Tucker, Bregman, Bo and Imai for 120m AAV and pay 100m in CBT. That would really scare the Dodgers.
Bregman really wants Boston but Boston is done with stupid contracts
RickEO: How do you know? Bregman told you this?
You can easily tell from their actions. They haven’t signed anyone for over 3 years recently other than absolutely cream of the top like Crochet
Well he’s probably got a brain. And if you pay attention to history know how his agent operates and then it’s kind of like connect the dots from there. A signing isn’t coming soon. There will be some type of mystery team added in the next week or so. Then there will be a narrowing. A leak that he’s getting close and finally around the second week or third week of January, he’ll sign. And everyone will question, all that for what?
I assume Bregman wants to be on a contending team and the biggest contract he can get.
Uncle Pedro’s Dancing Kittens: Just like every player.
Very true. I was focusing on the comment about him really wanting to be in Boston, and I doubt that will factor into his decision making unless two teams offer similar amounts and the other is in a less desirable setting.
I don’t think you see too many hometown discounts these days, although I am sure you do occasionally get a player who is so comfortable on a team that he has no desire to test free agency.
Michelle over Bregman.
No chance he’s a Cub. Matt Shaw and Nico Hoerner at third and 2nd.. Unless Nico is dealt and Shaw moves over to 2nd. … Barger is settled in at third in Toronto… boras trying to do boras things right now because he knows bregman’s market isn’t there
Cubs are very disciplined in their approach. If the market doesn’t develop they could land him, but it’s highly unlikely. Right now all the “interested” clubs are being used to drive up the price on the Red Sox. Boras’s goal is to get him more security than he had when he opted out. I think the intention is for him to stay in Boston.
A $40 million per is worth $2 million in Canada.
I’m interested in a blonde supermodel, yet sadly she has other interests, blue jays should get some compensation for all the stories they have generated for the rumor mill
What does the room feel like a fair offer for Bregman would be?
5/135?
I believe it hinges on factors that we in the room are not fully aware of.
Boston’s out on this. Have been. Anyways, they have Vaughn Grissom. Oh…wait.
Makes sense. If the Jays lose out on both Tucker and Biggio, nabbing Bregman to play 3rd while Clement slides over to 2nd and Barger takes over an OF spot is still a solid move. Jays defence improves, and Alex has a decent enough bat that doesn’t make losing Biggio’s stick being a death kneel for the Jays.
Biggio?
Oh yeah, Bichette. I think they weren’t overly upset about getting rid of Cavan!
I hope the Blue Jays can sign Bo Bichette to a new contract
This is right out the Boras playbook. Every few days or so leak an interested team so it appears there’s a bigger market than there actually is. Teams believe they are bidding against others, when they often end up bidding against themselves. Teams with discipline don’t fall for it and end up without a lot of Boras clients, but they also don’t end up with a bust of player. There are plenty examples of this. Boras needs a new playbook.
I feel like Toronto’s interest in Bregman is a means of luring Bichette back and hoping he takes some money off to stay. We keep hearing Kyle Tucker is the Jays real target but then we don’t hear anyone else on him so these types of headlines are usually smoak to hopefully draw a player out
Can we just say the Jays are interested in everyone already?
Realistically, the want a Tucker and Bichette but would settle for Bellinger and Bregman. Also, any combo of 1 of those OF and 1 of those infielders works as well.
Unless Bo’s market gets completely out of hand, which doesn’t seem likely considering he recently announced he was willing to move off of shortstop to sign a contract, I don’t see them signing Bregman.
Ideally Tucker and Bichette and the Jays become an absolute juggernaut. But I honestly believe the best combo offensively and defensively would be bichette for 2b and Bellinger in a corner outfield spot. Clement as 3b, BamBam corner outfield, with Bellinger and you e got a righty lefty mix in your lineup that’s enviable as well as power, contact ability etc. the only thing Tucker brings to the table that Bellinger doesn’t is stealing a base, but with this team it’s not really a high need. And for the 200+ million difference, id be much more inclined to have Bellinger. Doesn’t hurt that it takes away from the Jankees either.
Bellinger is also a lefty, just as Barger is, so no righty lefty mix. Now Tucker i believe is also a left handed hitter.
Take with a grain of salt bc they were in on Murakami as well but couldnt outbid the White Sox at 34 mil over 2 yrs, so my guess is theyll offer 3yrs and 60 mil for Bregman lolol…….the writers block is obviously a thing with baseball writers this time of the winter lol
Why, because they’ve shown that they are unwilling to spend to get a player they want? Have you been paying attention?
Blue jays should stop saying we are interested in this guy and that guy and do something before everyone gone.
Sign Bo , sign Bregman , for less than 400 million for both and forget Tucker 400 million contract
I know we want Bo back, but it would be funny if he went to the Phillies and we signed Tucker and Bregman. Clement to 2B Tucker roaming LF and CF as needed with Barger in RF. Better defence and a crazy good lineup. Of Bregman Bichette Tucker we should sign at least two to go win a WS