According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Toronto Blue Jays have a contract offer out in the six-year range for third baseman Alex Bregman, one of the top-ranked free agents still left on the board with Spring Training just a few weeks away.

While the financials of the Blue Jays offer were not listed by Nightengale, Toronto is not the only team interested in his services. The Houston Astros, where Bregman has called home since his 2016 MLB Debut, have a six-year deal worth $156 million out there for the New Mexico product to return to the AL West. Other reported teams that have inquired about the third baseman include the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox but reportedly, neither team is willing to go into the same year territory as Houston and Toronto.

Boasting a career .272/.366/.483 slash line, Bregman is the clear-cut top third baseman available this winter and is reportedly looking for a long-term deal that will surpass $200 million.

Bregman broke out in a big way in 2017 when he crafted a 4.0 bWAR through 155 games and posted a .827 OPS with a 125 OPS+. The 6-foot infielder continued to improve in short order, crafting a 7.9 and a league-leading 8.9 bWAR in 2018 and 2019, respectively. He led the league in doubles (51) in 2018 and also led the Major Leagues in walks in 2019, generating 119 free passes.

A two-time All-Star and a runner-up to the MVP Award in 2019, Bregman has surpassed the 20+ home run mark on five different occasions and amassed a career-high 41 knocks during his impressive 2019 run. Through 1111 games, Bregman owns a .848 OPS and a 132 OPS+ but has seen a slight decline in his play since his impressive showing just before the pandemic.

Although he hasn’t hit the lofty targets he set in 2019 through the past few seasons, Bregman continues to be one of the top third basemen in the game.

Since 2018, he sits behind only Jose Ramirez in terms of third baseman fWAR (33.6) and ranks third with his .371 OBP amongst the group. Gunnar Henderson just edges him out in wRC+ (although Bregman has just under 600 games on the Orioles infielder) and his 164 round trippers slot him in at #8.

Defensively, Bregman holds his own on the left side of the infield and has amassed a +27 DRS over the past nine seasons, with some experience as well at shortstop early in his career. The former Astro mentioned he would be willing to move to second base this winter, likely to increase potential suitors. He also has a Gold Glove to his name, which he earned last season.

With Spring Training just a stone’s throw away and Bregman represented by super agent Scott Boras, this report could be smoke and mirrors from the third baseman’s camp as he tries to gain leverage in the market for a massive payday (Pete Alonso-esq in a way).

The fit does make sense for the Jays, as the club could use Bregman’s bat at the top of the lineup and have a spot open at third base, even if he isn’t the prototypical power hitter Toronto may be more geared towards at this point in the winter. He also has some playoff experience under his belt in the form of two World Series championships and a steady postseason track record.

The six years is a significant commitment to someone who turns 31 in just over a month but his track record speaks for itself in many regards and he would make the Blue Jays a better team on paper, although with the potential for the deal to sour over time.