The Houston Astros’ top priority this offseason is clear: re-signing franchise icon Alex Bregman, who has spent the last nine years cementing his place in team history.
Now a free agent, Bregman is reportedly seeking a contract exceeding $200 million. However, it’s uncertain if any team will meet that demand. Houston’s initial offers have been in the $150 million range, leading some to question whether he’ll remain with the Astros.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield is skeptical. He predicts Bregman will leave Houston to sign a six-year, $187 million deal with the Detroit Tigers.
“The Tigers are an ideal match in terms of need, payroll flexibility, and existing relationships,” Schoenfield writes. “Detroit’s third basemen ranked 22nd in OPS during 2024, batting .234 with 11 home runs, and the offense as a whole was 29th in OBP. With only two players — Javier Baez and Kenta Maeda — set to earn $10 million or more in 2025, the Tigers have room to make some impactful additions.”
If any front office needs to invest heavily in talent this offseason, it’s Detroit’s. After the Tigers’ leadership essentially abandoned the 2024 season, the team defied expectations with a Cinderella run to the postseason. However, they lacked the roster depth to seriously compete for a title.
Signing Bregman could serve as a gesture of goodwill to the fans and signal a shift from rebuilding to contending. Adding Bregman would be a major step toward restoring the Tigers as a competitive force.
