Add the Blue Jays to the list of potential free agent candidates Alex Bregman. Toronto officials have been in contact with Scott Boras, the outfielder’s third agent, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. The Red Sox, Cubs, and Diamondbacks have also been linked to Bregman.
Toronto is already the dominant player in free agency this offseason, though the additions have come on the playmaking side. The team has snapped up one of the best right-handed starters on the market Dylan Cease. They shut down the reliever Tyler Rogers on a three-year contract. In a year with many interesting arms arriving from overseas, the Blue Jays received one of the highest picks. Cody Ponce. Toronto is tied for some of the biggest bats on the market, incl Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellingeragain Bo Bichette. Now Bregman joins that esteemed group.
Boston reportedly wants a Bregman reunion. The third baseman opted out of a three-year, $120MM deal with the team after one season. He had a solid campaign with the Red Sox, providing a thump up the middle to go with steady glove work. Chicago is back in the mix after coming up short last year. The Cubs reportedly offered Bregman a four-year contract this past offseason, though the total amount came down to his deal with the Red Sox. The Diamondbacks recently entered the race for Bregman. Arizona looks like a longshot to land a free agent, but the club has cap space after the trade Eugenio Suarez by deadline.
Toronto’s current third-place system appears to be a combination Addison Barger, Ernie Clementagain Davis Schneider. Clement will be penciled in at second base and Bichette will hit the market. Barger is a top option for third base jobs, at least against righties. Schneider may take second base reps against lefties, with Clement sliding to third. Midfielders JoJo Parker again Arjun Nimmala they are among Toronto’s top prospects, though they are unlikely to contribute at the big league level for a few more years.
Blue Jays third basemen ranked 10th in OPS last season. Clement and Barger split the role equally, with Is Wagner again Isiah Kiner-Falefa meeting from time to time. Barger emerged as a vital cog in the middle of the lineup, launching 21 home runs in his first stretch at the highest level. Clement rode in the infield, seeing time in all four positions. He played in a career-high 157 games, providing major league numbers at the plate. Clement also set a postseason record with 30 hits. Third base isn’t a position that seems like an obvious weakness, but the long-term view of the roster makes Bregman a reasonable fit. George Springer again Daulton Varsho both are free agents after 2026. Their potential departure will open up some outfield and DH opportunities for Barger, Schneider, and company.
While Clement and Barger are solid players, Toronto will have no problem retooling the lineup to make room for an addition like Bregman. The 31-year-old has a career 133 wRC+. After three straight seasons with at least 23 home runs, Bregman hit 18 in 114 games in his one season in Boston. A quad strain cost him a month and a half, but he was on track to maintain his normal strength numbers. Bregman was worth a +3 Outs Above Average this past year. He is now +18 over the last five seasons.
The additions of Cease and Rogers, among others, pushed Toronto’s payroll to nearly $272MM, per RosterResource. That’s already $14MM more than the 2025 club cap. It’s more than the Blue Jays’ $217MM salary through 2024. A new level of spending on a team that failed to deliver a title last year.
Photo courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images
