Craziest Alex Bregman rumor yet validates Tigers' decision not to out-bid Red Sox

The Red Sox are on a five-game winning streak, are no longer under .500, and are just one game back of a Wild Card spot, but whether or not they'll end up selling at the trade deadline is still a hot topic of discussion. A lot will be clarified in the three or so weeks between now and the July 31 deadline, but if Boston slumps and the four teams right behind them heat up, the Red Sox have a lot of pieces that could be moved for a nice price. And the Detroit Tigers have been linked to them frequently.

The hottest commodity of them all is, of course, Alex Bregman, who is still nursing a quad strain that's kept him out since late May. Others like Aroldis Chapman and Walker Buehler could be on the table, but Bregman is clearly the most valuable of them all (even though previous buzz suggested he would not be moved, especially after the Rafael Devers trade).

The Tigers, exhaustingly, have been included in almost every discussion regarding the viability of Bregman as a trade candidate. On Wednesday, Jim Bowden of the Athletic named the Cubs, Tigers, and Mariners as the likeliest destinations if he is dealt. Tigers fans might not want him in Detroit after the debacle that was his bidding war, and the front office has to be glad that it's not their problem to figure out.

Tigers get the last laugh on Alex Bregman as Red Sox trade rumors intensify

There have also been rumors aplenty about a potential contract extension for Bregman in Boston. After they traded Rafael Devers to the Giants and with Bregman's opt-out at the end of this season looming, there would be no greater embarrassment than for the Red Sox to have willingly let go of one former third baseman only to watch another walk because the team couldn't win or pay their new one.

But, as Bowden notes, extensions are tough when Bregman's agent is Scott Boras, who seems allergic to such negotiations.

As much as Tigers fans don't want Bregman, there's no doubt he would make the team better (if he's healthy, which is still up in the air), and he has a wealth of postseason experience that would benefit the younger guys. Whether or not he does end up in Detroit, though, Tigers fans can only laugh about how poorly operated the Red Sox seem to be this year and watch as they scramble to try to keep one of their biggest offseason acquisitions. Not only that, but it's clear Bregman is solely after the money, and there's no room for that kind of attitude on a team-oriented club such as the Tigers. Bregman's been in Boston for a couple months and we're already hearing about how he wants more money after getting $40 million AAV? Give us a break.

Meanwhile, Detroit is still comfortably leading baseball by winning percentage, so Bregman would only be so lucky to end up here.