The New York Yankees are heavily involved in the 2024 MLB postseason race and are currently neck and neck with the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. While their attention is firmly on this season, there’s speculation about how their roster might look in 2025. One potential target could be Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic mentioned this possibility in an article on August 13, where he also discussed Bregman and Matt Chapman. He pointed out that the market for third basemen will be intriguing. Alongside the Astros and Giants, teams with evident needs for a third baseman include the Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Yankees—assuming they move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base to replace Gleyber Torres. The Mets might also be in the mix if they don’t see Mark Vientos as a long-term solution.
Bregman is in the final year of a five-year, $100 million contract with the Astros and is expected to seek a substantial deal before the 2025 season, with Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer estimating a potential $210 million contract in free agency. Rymer also suggested that Bregman might re-sign with Houston, but his final destination will depend on the market and what other teams are prepared to offer.
How Alex Bregman Would Fit Into the Yankees’ Everyday Lineup
As Rosenthal noted, if the Yankees were to acquire Alex Bregman, they would need to make some adjustments to their infield. Specifically, if Gleyber Torres were to leave via free agency, Jazz Chisholm Jr. could move to second base, creating space for Bregman at third base. However, bringing Bregman to New York might only be a viable option if the Yankees are unable to re-sign outfielder Juan Soto.
This isn’t the first time Bregman’s name has come up in connection with the Yankees. In a report from March 2, Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggested that the Yankees and Mets might be in a bidding war for Bregman. He anticipated increased financial competition between the two teams, with Bregman being a particularly intriguing target.
Entering games on August 13, the Yankees’ third basemen have accumulated 1.9 fWAR, placing them in a three-way tie for 15th in the league, though this figure is somewhat misleading. Jazz Chisholm Jr., who has played 13 games at third base since joining the Yankees, has contributed 1.1 fWAR. In contrast, Oswaldo Cabrera (0.4 fWAR), Jon Berti (0.2 fWAR), DJ LeMahieu (0.1 fWAR), and Jahmai Jones (0.1 fWAR) together have added just 0.8 fWAR across 115 games.
Alex Bregman Has Turned His 2024 Season Around
From 2018 to 2019, Alex Bregman delivered impressive performances for the Astros, hitting over 30 home runs and driving in at least 100 RBIs in both seasons, alongside two top-five finishes in American League MVP voting.
Although his numbers from 2022 to 2023 didn’t quite match those peak years, Bregman still posted solid stats. He hit over 20 home runs and collected at least 90 RBIs each year, maintaining a .812 OPS over 1,380 plate appearances.
Bregman’s 2024 season began sluggishly but saw significant improvement starting in early summer. Up until the end of May, he had a .219/.280/.372 slash line with seven home runs, 26 RBIs, and 18 runs scored across 236 plate appearances. Since June, his performance has surged, with a .296/.352/.498 line, 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 45 runs scored over 264 plate appearances.
Despite a slow start, Bregman’s season stats are expected to align closely with his recent performance levels, positioning him for a potential contract in the $150 to $200 million range. The key factors will be how his market develops and whether the Astros are prepared to meet his demands to keep him in Houston.
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