Bleacher Report has creative Tigers contract prediction for Alex Bregman

Despite Ben Verlander's daily urging, the Tigers have yet to agree to the terms of a contract with star free agent Alex Bregman. Word on Detroit's chances of getting him have been mixed lately, with Ken Rosenthal throwing cold water on the idea by citing their unwillingness to spend, but Robert Murray countering that there was "no real threat besides the Tigers."

Bregman is reportedly looking for a seven-year, $200 million deal, but both the years and money there are undoubtedly unattractive to the Tigers, who hate to block prospects and also hate to spend. Even if there are currently no other real threats, the Red Sox seem to be making more noise recently, and the Blue Jays, Mets, and Phillies could also still be interested.

If Bregman is going to stand solid on seven years and $200 million, there's little chance the Tigers will wind up getting him. However, Bleacher Report had an interesting contract solution that could get him to Detroit if all parties involved were willing to budge a little and meet in the middle.

Tim Kelly suggested three years and $90 million, but with player options for 2026 and 2027. That $30 million a year mark would exceed Bregman's current asking AAV ($28.6 million), and just 1-3 years with some flexibility for Bregman could also reassure the Tigers that they won't have to block prospects forever (or have an onerous long-term contract locked in for close to a decade).

Tigers Free Agency Update: Where does Detroit stand on Alex Bregman?

The Tigers have already demonstrated some flexibility in their usual unwillingness to prioritize prospects but declining to promise third base to Jace Jung. It could be that they're holding out for Bregman (if they don't get him, Jung will almost certainly go to third base and cycle out with Matt Vierling and Andy Ibáñez), but Jung has also been named as a likely trade candidate if the Tigers were to let go of prospects at all.

If they get Bregman and keep Jung, a three-year deal with only one year guaranteed could be the fix. While they shouldn't hope that Bregman choses to opt-out after the first year, it would buy them more time to figure out what to do with Jung while playing him as Bregman's backup in 2025.

Should Bregman talks extend into spring training the way that many of Scott Boras' high-profile clients' did last year, he could be a lot more amenable for settling on a deal with fewer years than he's asking for (much like Blake Snell did with the Giants). While fans definitely don't want to wait that long for a deal to happen, running down the clock could also help the Tigers out here, especially if there are no other serious contenders.