The Boston Red Sox have started the 2024 campaign with a surprisingly good record. The Houston Astros have done the opposite.
Houston has dominated the American League West in recent years, even beyond its 2017 scandal. Now, after winning their division for three straight season, the Astros have fallen to last place and they have one of the most lopsided records in MLB.
One of their star players has also started the campaign slow, and he was expected to be one of the most coveted free agents of the 2024-25 offseason. His early-season stall could prevent that.
Alex Bregman's offensive numbers have been less than ideal for a player who'll likely be hunting for a new ball club at the end of the 2024 slate. The third baseman's .216/.287/.268 slash line isn't up to his usual standard. Bregman usually strikes out quite a bit, but he hasn't hit consistently enough to make up for it — Baseball Savant ranks the veteran in the 94th percentile in strikeout rate.
Alex Bregman's Slow Start Could Cost Him Millions https://t.co/VLJnuSHmzc pic.twitter.com/PdSkIBfNL1
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) April 29, 2024
Red Sox named as potential landing spot for Alex Bregman in 2025
MLB Trade Rumors listed a few potential homes for Bregman after 2024 and the Red Sox were among them. Darragh McDonald also named the Mets and Orioles as possible new teams for the infielder.
Boston has an everyday third baseman in Rafael Devers, who is by no means a defensive wiz, but he wields a better bat than Bregman has, save for 2019. The Red Sox's farm system is also packed with infield talent and there is little room for another infielder in the mix. Devers, Trevor Story, Vaughn Grissom, Ceddanne Rafaela, Marcelo Mayer and others are already in contention for roster spots on the left side of Boston's infield.
The Orioles also have a stacked lineup of talent in their middle infield. Co-MLB-home-run-leader Gunnar Henderson and new Red Sox killer Jordan Westburg are among their choices at third base and shortstop, both of Bregman's positions.
Of MLB Trade Rumors' predictions, Bregman would most likely end up in New York. If his slow start carries through the rest of the season, it may bring his price down in free agency, but it would probably be more than the Red Sox are willing to pay, regardless. And their prospect pool is so packed with infielders they should avoid Bregman, anyway, unless they have a grander plan to ship those prospects off for other talent to better supplement the roster.