The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Possible Landing Spots For Alex Bregman In Free Agency

Episode Date: November 12, 2024

Alex Bregman is one of the top free agents in the market and is unlikely to accept the Astros' $21.05 million qualifying offer for the next season (Bregman has until 3 p.m. CT on Nov. 19 to do so). The Gold Glove-winning third baseman is expected to seek a multiyear deal. General manager Dana Brown stated at the General Managers Meetings in San Antonio that resigning Bregman is the Astros' "biggest priority" this offseason; however, the organization has a history of not retaining homegrown players, such as Carlos Correa and George Springer. Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" review the latest MLB free agent predictions and discuss the possible landing spots for Bregman next season.

So ESPN has five baseball writers. I've only heard of in this group one. Jeff Passon. No, it's Bob. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I stand correct. It's not ESPN. These are all non-ESPN people.

Oh, Michael Schwab put this out. I don't know where he got it from. But these are five baseball writers. I mean, he's an aggregator. I mean, I think Michael will be the first admit that he aggregates everything, or most everything. I don't know where he got this from, so I don't know. But five baseball writers,

predicted where Alex Breggman was going to go. And let me give you the people. And maybe you can help me with who these friends people are. Gabe L-A-K-E-S-L-A-C-Q-U-E-S. I would see a Frenchie. Gabe Lechre. I don't know who that guy is. Steve Gardner?

Steve Gardner. Isn't he a former GM or something like that? Scott Boak, B-O-E-C-K. Jesse Yamtov? These are buddies of Michael Schwabs or what? I don't know what's going on. This looks like it's from USA to Day. And then Bob Nightingale.

Okay. These are USA Today right now. Okay, so USA baseball writers. Jesse Nyomtov says that Alex Breggman's going to the New York Mets and the conversation may be him going there and playing second base. He says the man, he says which the thought of Breggman playing second base brings the Mets into the conversation since the NL runners up have Mark Vientos now firmly entrenched at third. The 30-year-old Breggman is coming off the worst season of his career in his 20. 25 employer may be largely determined by the trickle-down effect of Soto's ownership. Corship, excuse me.

Scott Boak, B-O-E-C-K, back, whatever. Scott says the Alex Bremen's going to sign with the Astros. It's hard to see Bregman the face of the franchise depart after nine years, but then again, Houston let All-Star shortstop Carl's career walk. So that's a very lukewarm endorsement on that one. Something called Steve Gardner says, Houston Astros. Is there any way the Astros actually let Breggman walk? teammates and fans want him back.

Plus, he'd be crazy to leave Houston where his medium power is tailor-made for depositing home runs into the Crawford boxes in the left field. Does have a point. I mean, Brugman's made for right for the left field defenses, right? Yeah. He's made for the boxes. Gabe La Cue. La Croix. La Croix.

Says Washington Nationals. Jim Greene gets pushed beyond the comfort level and lets another dynasty building asset walk from Houston. Bramman becomes the veteran glue for a promising core that needs a North Star. And last, but not least, and probably the most recognizable of the five USA Today writers. By the way, USA Today is employing five baseball riders? That feels like a lot. Don't you think? I mean, when's the last time you had pulled a copy of the USA Today and read it?

At a hotel? Yeah, no, they don't even deliver that many hotels anymore. But here's a bottom nightingale says. Bregman has always loved the spotlight, dreaming of playing on the big stage. And what's bigger then? New York. The New York Yankees. He'll have both New York teams bidding for him, but the Yankees will be the ultimate winner.

Okay, well, he's the one I put the most stock into, because Bob Nightingale, while he's gotten some stuff wrong, he's pretty plugged in. He probably has, first of all, he's plugged in more than the other four guys combined. Second of all, his winning percentage is about $750. Probably has an open line to Scott Boris, but not that Boris would leak that, too. him but um but scott boris probably has links things to not can get up before but i don't think it's happening here necessarily there's probably still a bidding and all that no but who would scott he's going to link it to somebody but i think he's absolutely right and well uh oh no maybe it was the yomto which which

one said that it'll be after soto trickled down from soto i think is correct so i think the team that signed soto will come off the board be at the nationals yankees or matt's all listed on this list of possible suitors for Alex Breggman services, and then they will pivot, and I think Alex Breggman will be one of the kind of bridesmaids, or whatever you want to call it. So if you're Alex, you are waiting to find out, or does the market make you wait? I think the market, which I think teams are going to try this, they're going to swing at Soto first, and then they'll pivot.

So does that mean the teams that are currently in on Soto, or at least think they have a chance, are the same ones going after Bregman? Yeah, if you're willing to spend $500 million in Soto, you wouldn't say, you know what, consolation prize, $180 million on Alex Bregman? I think that. You know what, though? Yeah.

Do you know what that does? Being in the same free agent class for Bregman, it really helps him because there are going to be, you're going to be too many teams. They're going to say that Juan Soto is too rich for their blood, and maybe we'll get better value at a lower dollar amount for Alex. That's genius, actually. And you know what?

Yeah, I'll gut feeling that now. Breggman signs after Soto. Is that probably pretty. I mean, if you want to give yourself credit for that one. That's a chalk. You're only getting 40 cents on the dollar and return on that. But I think that's the way to go up. It plays out.

Yeah, I think so too. Because if you're Breggman, why would you? Because you're not, you are not going to be going, wow, if Soto's signs, there's no more money left for me. Is Bregman the second most highly sought up to free agent in this off season? Corbyn Burns, I think, is one. and I think Bregman is three. I'd have to go look at other people's recent rankings, but... Okay.

I think we'd have to have our heart to heart with our audience. And just, no, let's rip the band-aid. He'd go. No, no. Is there somewhere that Bregman goes that you just can't forgive him? Oh, people have Blake Snell ahead of him. And as far as position players, so it's Soto and that's it.

But also Roki Sasaki, the Japanese pitcher. It's supposed to be a 23-year-old phenom. also going to be highly sought after. But that's also a picture you said, right? Yeah. Okay. So here's the question. Will we turn our stomachs if he goes to the Yankees?

I want you all to think about that for a second. And then if you want to, because you're an Astros fan and you like to listen to this show. I want you to close your eyes as long as you're not driving. Ross, close your eyes. Close. And I want you to envision Alex Pregman in Yankee Pinstripes. Yeah, you know what we are? We're therapists.

How are you feeling right now? Imagine Opening day Yankees versus Reyes at New Yankee Stadium on 66 WFAN and having people in the outfield scream

Alex Bregman Alex Bregman after booing him for years and years and years? And called him a cheetah stole a championship from us. Cheetah. MF and Cheetah. Speaking of Cheetah, where's Jita? Open your eyes and call right now.

713-212-5-7-9. Just let me know what's in your raw emotions if I've said that Alex Brickman is wearing Yankee gear. 7-13-212-5-790.