MLB insider drops updates on Alex Bregman's fit with Astros, Red Sox, Cubs, Blue Jays, Tigers

Two-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman is one of the top free agents of this season, yet he still remains unattached to any team.

Bregman has spent his entire career with the Houston Astros, but he did not take up their reported six-year, $156 million offer. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers have all shown their interest in acquiring him.

MLB insider Robert Murray believes the Houston Astros are still willing to bring back Alex Bregman to their clubhouse even though they have bolstered their infield. He believes the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox are keen to sign him, but the player has not shown much interest in joining them.

The Detroit Tigers are also interested in acquiring Alex Bregman but have not made any breakthrough in their negotiations. Murray also named the Chicago Cubs as suitors for the third baseman, although he doubts whether they will be willing to add his high wages to their payroll.

Robert Murray is an MLB columnist for FanSided. He is also a co-host on The Baseball Insiders podcast and offered his thoughts on the show this Friday. [8:50 - 13:09]

"The Astros, the offer they extended Bregman earlier in the off-season, remains on the table," Murray said. "He's got other suitors as well. You look at the Chicago Cubs; you have the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox, and the Detroit Tigers.

"From the Cubs' perspective, it makes sense because they need some more bats. They need some infield reinforcements in Chicago," he continued. "In order for Bregman to go to Chicago, they'd need ownership to really allow that front office to add that kind of a paycheck to the payroll, and I'm not optimistic that'll end up being the case.

"The Tigers have been interested in him for the majority of the off-season, but talks have been kind of at a standstill there. The Blue Jays, it seems, have been in on every bat here," he added. "But he's not a name I've heard too much there. And [for] the Red Sox, it's kind of been the same thing all off-season. They're involved, but nothing is close there, as of this point."

Last season, Alex Bregman batted .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs, 76 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 118.

I don't necessarily know the likelihood there: Robert Murray on Alex Bregman re-signing with the Astros

Alex Bregman could return to Astros for the upcoming season (Image Source: Imagn)

Alex Bregman did not have the market that he was expecting when he became a free agent in the offseason. Robert Murray feels the fact that the Houston Astros are still interested in the third baseman is a good sign, although he is entirely sure if they will end up bringing him back to the team.

"We saw [Astros manager] Joe Espada tease it the other day that they were still involved, or at least lurking in the market," he said. "That remains on the table for sure. I don't necessarily know the likelihood there, but the fact that they're still involved and still open to it, that's good."

Bergman was picked by the Astros in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He signed a six-year, $100 million contract extension with the team in 2019 that reached its conclusion last season.