Tigers Rumors: Alex Bregman free agency picking up steam with latest update

If the Detroit Tigers had any hope of landing free agent third baseman Alex Bregman this offseason, it was starting to look like they would have to achieve the impossible feat of beating out the mighty New York Yankees in a bidding war.

However, Jack Curry asserted on YES Network's "Yankees Hot Stove" show earlier this week that the Yankees were out on Bregman; in fact, they may never have been seriously in on him in the first place.

The Yankees reportedly being out of the picture is good news for the Tigers, but they still aren't alone in their pursuit of Bregman; the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets have all been linked to him and presumably still have some level of interest. But the latest updates out of Detroit suggest that the Tigers may have gained an edge.

Tigers Rumors: Alex Bregman free agency picking up steam with latest update

Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press said earlier this week on the Days of Roar podcast that “there has been an increase in the Tigers’ prioritization of Bregman” as the offseason has continued, with “more dialogue, more conversation” between the club and Bregman's camp.

And with Friday's signing of Gleyber Torres, with Colt Keith likely shifting over to first base, it really opens up the possibility for a legitimate upgrade. Torres was only signed for one year, so the $30 million the Tigers spent between him and Alex Cobb maintains financial flexibility. Also, could Jace Jung be somebody moved for more pitching?

Detroit makes sense as a landing spot for Bregman for a number of reasons, not the least of which are his history with manager AJ Hinch and the Tigers' obvious need for a power bat in the middle of their lineup after their magical run to the ALDS last season. Still, the fact remains that Bregman is demanding at least $200 million, and the Tigers aren't willing to spend that much. Detroit has also been more inclined to sign free agents to one- or two-year deals and avoid long-term commitments.

It remains unclear, though, how flexible the Tigers are willing to be in their free agency spending strategy – if at all. The fact that "dialogue" and "conversation" are still ongoing with Bregman seems to indicate that there is at least some flexibility and open-mindedness on the part of the Tigers, which is a promising sign.

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