The New York Yankees do hold grudges when it comes to free agency.
Alex Bregman has been cast as a villain in the Bronx for the Astros’ cheating scandal and has been a “thorn” in their sides for years.
But GM Brian Cashman confirmed that he has talked to Bregman’s agent Scott Boras about playing third base for the Yankees, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
“Brian Cashman confirmed he has talked with Scott Boras about Alex Bregman. ‘He’s been a thorn in our sides for years, along with a lot of other peoples’ sides. He’s now into free agency and I’m sure he’s got a whole boatload of choices. Really good players like him make a lot of money,'” Hoch wrote on X.
The Yankees, who need a third baseman, have been linked to Bregman for a while. The playing field changed, however, after the Houston Astros traded lefty-slugger to the Chicago Cubs. Some insiders felt that dealing Tucker would make the Astros push harder for Bregman.
“I do think the Tucker trade is linked to Bregman,” MLB Network insider Jon Morosi said Friday on Hot Stove. “That links up with the Bregman free agent market.”
The Astros have already made Bregman an offer, reportedly of six years and $156 million. GM Dana Brown made clear in an appearance on MLBNetwork Radio that Bregman is still the club’s top priority.
However, it has been reported that Boras is seeking at least $200 million for his client while Spotrac projects Bregman’s market to settle around $120 million.
Bregman, 30, is a career .272 hitter with a .484 OPS coming off a 30-home run season with the Astros. He, however, comes with some added baggage for the Yankees.
Bregman was a part of the Astros’ cheating scandal and the Yankees have been very vocal about the fact they felt they were robbed of a World Series appearance by the Astros, who beat them in the 2017 American League Championship Series.
However, Cameron Maybin, who played for the 2017 Astros and the 2019 Yankees, thinks that Bregman would get along well with Yankees’ captain Aaron Judge.
More MLB: Who is the prospect the Yankees wouldn’t give up for Kyle Tucker
