Are we really talking about Alex Bregman?

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

https://sny.tv/articles/mets-interested ... egman-2024

SNY says we're interested. Seems like we do have a lot of infield talent in the minors to go and sign a long-term deal with a guy on the wrong side of 30.

The Mets are among the teams interested in free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

In addition to the Mets, the Astros, Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, and Blue Jays have interest in Bregman, per Feinsand.

The Astros reportedly extended a six-year offer to Bregman, who rejected Houston's one-year qualifying offer. But him returning there seems iffy at best, with the Astros having recently traded for infielder Isaac Paredes and also connected to a potential trade for Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.

As far as the Mets' interest, it's fair to believe that signing Bregman would at the very least make a reunion with Pete Alonso less likely.

David Stearns and Steve Cohen have been open about the Mets' desire to retain Alonso, whose market has been slow to develop.

In a world where the Mets add Bregman, they could conceivably shift Mark Vientos to first base.

Bregman, who has never struck out more than 97 times in a season and has been one of the best hitters in baseball for nearly a decade, could be a strong lineup fit and help serve as protection for the newly-acquired Juan Soto.

In addition to Bregman bolstering the lineup, pairing him with Francisco Lindor would give the Mets one of the best defensive left sides of the infield in the game.

If the Mets believe Bregman's relatively down 2024 was a blip (he had a 118 OPS+ and the lowest OBP since his rookie season), it could be smart to pounce.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I just looked it up; he'll turn 31 in March.

So he's on the "wrong side of thirty" but just barely.

[Fman99]

Good to do your due dilligence, I guess, but I prefer Vientos at 3B and Alonso at 1B to Bregman at 3B and Vientos at 1B. I don't want to watch Pete hit 250 HRs in the Bronx, or Wrigley Field, or anywhere else honestly, except in the Flush

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree. While I wouldn't mind getting Bregman, I'd rather keep Pete.

[ashie62]

I think we need a top line starter before Bregman

If Frankie Montas and what we see as a rotation today I would believe us to be screwed

I believe Pete will be back, just a hunch

[Edgy MD]

I wouldn't conclude that reports about the Mets inquiring into Alex Bregman means they are ignoring the starting-pitcher market.

[MFS62]

The only tool Pete has over Bregman is power. While I'd like Pete to stay, I think the team would be better with Alex.
I believe getting him would upgrade the defense at two corner infield positions. And this pitching staff strikes me as "contact pitchers'(think Ed Lynch), not getting a lot of strikeouts. So defense will be important.
But I could live with either one.
Later

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I ain't got nothin to say bout Alex Bregman

[batmagadanleadoff]

The only tool Bregman has over Pete is power.

How do you figure? Alonso has a higher lifetime SLG average and hits homers almost twice as often as Bregman does, rate-wise.

[MFS62]

The only tool Bregman has over Pete is power.

How do you figure? Alonso has a higher lifetime SLG average and hits homers almost twice as often as Bregman does, rate-wise.

OOPS, fixed.
Thanks
d'oh!
Later

[batmagadanleadoff]

The only tool Bregman has over Pete is power.

How do you figure? Alonso has a higher lifetime SLG average and hits homers almost twice as often as Bregman does, rate-wise.

OOPS, fixed.
Thanks
d'oh!
Later

Oh, I see.

The only tool Pete has over Bregman is power.

And the only tools that Einstein had over me is that he was better at math and science and physics.

[MFS62]

And the only tools that Einstein had over me is that he was better at math and science and physics.

But I'll bet you're a better graphic artist.
Later

[batmagadanleadoff]

And the only tools that Einstein had over me is that he was better at math and science and physics.

But I'll bet you're a better graphic artist.

If that's true, it's probably only because I have access to tools that didn't exist in Einstein's day.

[Gwreck]

Seems like we do have a lot of infield talent in the minors to go and sign a long-term deal with a guy on the wrong side of 30.

Only if you presume that signing Bregman prevents the Mets from continuing to develop talent.

All of that infield talent hasn’t done anything in the major leagues and the Mets have holes in the lineup for players who can produce right now, this year.

Bregman is a fine if not first choice for the Mets.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Bregman to third base and Vientos to first, if it happens, still leaves room for young players to push their way into the lineup at second base or center field, for example.

[Gwreck]

Bregman to third base and Vientos to first, if it happens, still leaves room for young players to push their way into the lineup at second base or center field, for example.

And first, and third, because of the DH slot.

The takeaway is that there is no roster crunch at all. Mets need to get the best possible players on the team now. Not in a couple years.

[duan]

Call me non-plussed about Bregman. I think if we're not re-signing Pete i'd prefer to go with something like a four-headed Santana/Mauricio/Baty/Vientos 1b/3b/DH monster.

[Fman99]

Presumably no job left for him now in Houston as they've traded for Isaac Paredes from the Cubs (3B) and are reportedly in agreement with Christian Walker as their new 1B.

[Edgy MD]

Yordan Alvarez pretty much has DH covered, too.

[smg58]

Bregman has nine months on Alonso and 22 more WAR over his career. A straight-up choice between the two wouldn't be difficult. The question is how many more years would it take.

[Lefty Specialist]

Bregman 3b/Vientos 1b > Vientos 3b/Alonso 1b.

Now, Uncle Steve could just say 'screw it' and sign them both, rotating them through the DH slot.