Bleacher Report predicts AJ Hinch will reunite with Astros star on Tigers in free agency

Members of the 2017 Houston Astros are always going to be met with skepticism no matter where their careers take them, but the big three — Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Carlos Correa — will never escape the sign-stealing, trash-can-banging events of that season that led Houston to their first World Series win in franchise history.

AJ Hinch, the manager of that Astros team, was also met with a lot of side-eyeing when he was hired by the Tigers in 2020. He was slapped with one-year suspension for his role in the sign stealing scandal and was then "fired" by Houston owner Jim Crane. But Hinch's work with the Astros was undoubtedly impressive, and the Tigers really needed to move on from Ron Gardenhire.

Hinch and president of baseball operations Scott Harris have done the seemingly impossible this season by turning out a team that actually does look competitive and maybe even attractive to free agents (even though we all know that the Tigers aren't inclined to chase them).

That hasn't halted speculation, though, as Bleacher Report floated the Tigers as a possible destination for soon-to-be free agent Alex Bregman, which would reunite him with his former manager in Detroit.

Bleacher Report names Tigers as a potential landing spot for Alex Bregman in free agency

With the way the Tigers have been performing, it's been kind of easy to forget that they just recently found a third baseman who could be a long-term solution, despite that position looking like a gaping hole in the infield throughout the offseason. Before Jace Jung was called up to take over there, the Tigers put a rotating cast of Andy Ibáñez, Zach McKinstry, Gio Urshela, Matt Vierling, Javy Báez, and Ryan Kreidler at third throughout the season.

Harris has made it abundantly clear that he won't replace homegrown players with expensive stars, so it's more likely than not that we'll see Jung at third for a long time to come. However, if the Tigers decide that they've seen enough of Spencer Torkelson and move Colt Keith to first, then bump Jung to second, there will once again be a big infield issue.

Bregman's had one of his toughest years at the plate this season, batting .256 with a .757 OPS, but he's come alive as of late and could bring veteran leadership with him. Although he'll always carry around the stink of the 2017 season around with him, if he really might be an option for the Tigers in the offseason, then fans very well may have to hold their noses and welcome him into the fold. The team could be better off for it.