Tigers insider breaks down Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado and Pete Alonso rumors

Emma Lingan

Wild Card Series - Detroit Tigers v Houston Astros - Game 2 / Alex Slitz/GettyImages

The MLB hot stove has been rather lukewarm so far, and the longer big-name free agents go unsigned, the more rumors start to run wild. It can be particularly difficult to decipher which rumors have some truth to them and which do not, especially for a team like the Detroit Tigers that was already a bit of a question mark entering the offseason.

We still don't really know what the Tigers' offseason strategy is (or if they have one), and maybe that's by design. Regardless, it's causing plenty of angst among fans hoping to see their team make a splash on the trade and free agent markets that will help them take the next step as a contender in 2025.

The Tigers have been linked (loosely, however) to notable names like Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado, Pete Alonso and more. But is it likely that they'll actually land any of them? Evan Woodberry of MLive dove a little deeper into the rumor mill to provide some clarity.

Tigers insider breaks down Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado and Pete Alonso rumors

The case for Bregman landing in Detroit is an obvious one. The Tigers need a third baseman, and it would be a chance for the longtime Houston Astros third baseman reunite with his former manager in AJ Hinch. But Bregman will likely be too expensive for the Tigers, and Woodberry is "skeptical" that they have a legitimate chance at signing him. All signs point to him re-signing with the Astros and finishing out his career in Houston.

If Bregman is unlikely to fill the Tigers' void at third base, then what about a trade for Arenado? First of all, there's no guarantee that the St. Louis Cardinals will even move him. And if they do, he may cost a lot (on top of his remaining salary). Arenado is owed $74 million over the next three years, but some of that money is deferred and about $10 million is being paid by the Colorado Rockies.

Woodberry suspects a three-team trade could be possible for Arenado, or perhaps (more) salary retention. Either way, it's going to be messy, and the Tigers already have enough issues on their hands with the Javier Báez contract.

That brings us to Alonso, who Woodberry feels is probably the least likely of the three to end up in Detroit. The Tigers, he says, are likely looking for someone younger who can be more of a long-term solution at first base.

All told, Detroit fans will probably have to be patient for a little bit longer. It looks like the Tigers are taking a wait-and-see approach, keeping their options open. Expect them to be more reactive than proactive as the offseason unfolds.

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Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan is an MLB Staff Writer for FanSided primarily covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. She has been covering baseball for more than a decade dating back to her time as a student at Wake Forest University, and she has won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team delegation (2016 Pan-American Championships & 2017 World Baseball Classic). A native of Washington, D.C. and current resident of Nashville, Tenn., she is also entering her seventh season as a credentialed NHL media member and currently covers the NHL’s Nashville Predators for The Hockey News. When she's not watching hockey, baseball or football, she enjoys podcasting, reading, going to the gym, consuming large amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog, Minkah. You can follow her @Emma_lingan on Twitter and Instagram.