With the all-star shortstop Bo Bichette’s free agency saga intensifying, the Toronto Blue Jays are on the precipice of either a long-term commitment to the Florida native or finding a creative alternative.

Should the Blue Jays choose not to reunite with Bichette, former Boston Red Sox and longtime Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman could be a solution to the offensive production on the team.

Bregman is a seasoned veteran with deep postseason experience and has won two World Series with the Astros in 2017 and 2022, amassing a .239 BA, 19 home runs and 55 RBIs. Although his last two seasons in Houston showed some decline, the New Mexico-born player has a career slashline of .275/.365/.481 with a 133 wRC+.

He has also earned recognition as a solid defender with the Gold Glove award in 2024, proving that he can add value both defensively and offensively to any contenders.

Despite some underperformance in the past few seasons, many contenders showed interest in Bregman’s abilities in the past offseason because of what he is capable of at his heights. According to Ian Browne and Manny Randhawa of MLB.com, the Detroit Tigers offered six years and $171.5 million with an opt-out after 2026, while the Chicago Cubs offered four years and $120 million with an opt-out after 2026 and 2027.

But in the end, the Albuquerque native chose to sign with the Red Sox on a three-year, $120 million contract, opting for a higher average annual deal with an additional opt-out. This bet ended up paying off for Boston as Bregman recovered some of his abilities at the plate with a slashline of .273/.360 .462, including 18 home runs and 62 RBIs in 114 games for the 2025 season, missing some time on the IL. Notably, the first part of the season resulted in one of his best performances with a .299 BA with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. Unfortunately, his quad injury ultimately impacted his stats after being sidelined between May 24 and July 11.

In 2025, Bregman’s walk rate and K% were 10.3% and 14.1%, respectively. This was above MLB average, showcasing the third baseman’s solid plate approach. In contrast, his defensive numbers dropped this past season to 4.6, which is a significant downgrade from his Gold Glove-winning 2024 season (9.1). Bregman only played two postseason games in 2025, but he slashed .300/.462/.400 with one home run, still proving that he can make meaningful contributions at the plate.

Bregman isn’t quite at his peak anymore, which makes the fit with the Blue Jays more risky and curious at the same time. While he wasn’t able to record something similar to his prime in 2019 (.296/.423/.592) this season, the infielder is betting on himself with Scott Boras as his agent this offseason, hoping to either reunite with the Red Sox or sign with a new contender without being tied to the qualifying offer.

But considering that Toronto has strong infield defenders like Ernie Clement and Andrés Giménez, bringing the 31-year-old for more offensive production isn’t the worst bet, so long as he can come close to his golden years (primarily 2018 and 2019). ESPN projected the third baseman to receive a five-year, $160 million deal this offseason. In other words, Bregman has opted for another go-around this winter because he believes that he can aim for a longer-term contract. Toronto was also rumoured to be in the mix for his services last winter, a deal that never materialized.

Even with a dip in his batting, Bregman has shown that he can produce above MLB average, which is another indication of the consistency he brings to a contender. However, his recent defensive woes will be the ultimate X-factor that determines whether the bet for the Blue Jays is worth it or not. If the Blue Jays value Bregman’s offensive consistency and are willing to overlook the defence, this deal could be an underrated game-changer.