Even as the New York Yankees prepare to return to the playoffs in 2024 following a busy offseason that included a trade for star hitter Juan Soto, it’s never too early to forecast what the next class of free agents will bring.
In an article for the New York Post, Joel Sherman looks ahead to the market for two-time All-Star and World Series winner Alex Bregman, who is expected to get a nine-year, $286 million contract when he hits free agency at the end of the season. Sherman linked the Yankees to a potential bidding war with their crosstown opponent to secure his talents in 2025.
“I suspect the Mets and Yankees will be renewing financial fisticuffs more frequently,” Sherman said in an email. “And one (potential bidding war) that I think could be particularly interesting involves Alex Bregman.”
The New York Yankees would get an upgrade at third with Alex Bregman.
Sherman outlined the Yankees’ prospective interest in Bregman, noting that he would cover one of the team’s most pressing roster requirements at third base. D.J. LeMahieu, the team’s anticipated 2024 starter at that position, is 35 years old, and the next best alternative, Oswald Peraza, is an unknown big-league player.
“They don’t really believe in Oswald Peraza as a starting player, and there is no one in the minors even ready to pretend to contend for the position,” he said. “There is also this: LeMahieu can have a strong year and, with Gleyber Torres due to hit free agency, switch back to second and put the Yanks in the market at third.”
LeMahieu is anticipated to bat leadoff for the Yankees to begin the 2024 season, but his career-low.243 batting average from last season shows he will need to improve if he wants to keep that slot. Peraza is still 23 years old, but his.191/.267/.272 slash line from last season demonstrates why the Yankees may not see him as a long-term solution at third.
Bregman has a.274/.373/.487 batting line across his eight-year MLB career, including 25 home runs and 98 RBI last season. He received MVP votes in 2022 and 2023, as well as for his All-Star seasons in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, he hit 41 home runs and drove in 112 RBI, earning his only Silver Slugger award.
The Astros could extend Bregman for five years and $151 million, as they did for Jose Altuve, but the expected cost may be prohibitive.
“Bregman is still in his prime, and he and (agent Scott) Boras will expect to be paid accordingly,” CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa wrote. “And, frankly, they are likely seeking the kind of contract Astros owner Jim Crane has avoided.”
Projecting New York Yankees Free Agent Bidding Wars in 2025
In addition to mentioning a relationship between the Yankees and Bregman, Sherman hinted that the team could be in bidding battles with the Mets for some other big free agents following the 2024 season.
“There already has been speculation that the New York squads will be in a dollar duel next offseason for Juan Soto,” the source said. “Unless there is residual distaste over a February 2023 arbitration that got contentious then spilled into public criticism by Corbin Burnes against the (Milwaukee) Brewers —at a time when (Mets president) David Stearns was merely an advisor and no longer running baseball operations — then the right-hander is likely to draw interest from both New York teams.”
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