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Buster Olney believes Alex Bregman is a fit for the Blue Jays ‘in a lot of ways’
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Photo credit: © Troy Taormina- USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Oct 22, 2024, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 22, 2024, 09:28 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to one of the best power-hitting free agents this coming off-season.
No, it’s not the Juan Soto report from a few weeks ago. While the Blue Jays will likely pursue him heavily, with the New York Yankees making the World Series, he’s almost a lock to re-sign with the Bronx Bombers.
Last Tuesday, Buster Olney of ESPN was on TSN’s First Up: and noted that the Blue Jays could pursue the Houston Astros’ third baseman.
“He’s a proven winner, he’s a really good third baseman, he can hit, he would help to lengthen out their lineup,” Olney said.
“We know the Blue Jays have been looking to fill the third base spot more permanently for the past couple of years. They made Matt Chapman [an] offer for about $125 million early in the 2023 season, and Bregman fits [the team’s needs] in a lot of ways.”
More specifically, he reported that the Jays have been trying to fill the third base hole for a long-term period. They had two years of Matt Chapman and even offered him a multi-year contract extension, but he departed for the San Francisco Giants after the 2023 season. Olney also stated that Bregman is a great fit for the Jays, as the third baseman has won two World Series, can hit, and is solid at third base. 
The 30-year-old was selected second overall in the 2015 draft, making his big league debut in 2016. The season the Astros won their first World Series, Bregman slashed .284/.352/.475 with 19 home runs in 626 plate appearances. In 2019, another season where the Astros won the American League pennant, Bregman hit a career-high 41 home runs for a career-best 167 wRC+.
In 2022, the last time the Astros won the World Series, Bregman had another great season, slashing .259/.366/.454 with 23 home runs in 656 plate appearances for a 137 wRC+, the third-highest total of his career.
Most recently, Bregman slashed .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs in 634 plate appearances for a 118 wRC+. In his nine-year career, Bregman is slashing .272/.366/.483 with 191 home runs in 4832 plate appearances, with an 11.9 BB% and a 13.4 K% for a 118 wRC+ and 39.7 fWAR.
While Bregman doesn’t have Chapman’s levels of defence at the hot corner, he had 6 Defensive Runs Saved and 6 Outs Above Average in 1234.2 innings at third base last season. It was one of Bregman’s best defensive seasons of his career, as he has 27 DRS and 22 OAA in 8578 total innings at third. In fact, he was nominated for a Gold Glove last week.
If the Blue Jays are to sign Bregman this off-season, he’d certainly be their big get and a similar signing to another former Astro, George Springer. Of course, Springer’s contract hasn’t aged well as he’s gotten older, but Bregman solves a long-term issue at the hot corner that the Jays have had since Josh Donaldson was traded in 2018.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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