It’s always good to have options, and the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be in a position to control their own destiny in free agency.
All winter, the Blue Jays have been connected to Bo Bichette, their own long-time shortstop, and Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker. But in the last two weeks, they’ve also emerged as a suitor for Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman, a three-time All-Star at a position the Blue Jays don’t have totally firmed up.
On Monday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported on Bregman’s market, and although the insider mentioned four other teams as possibilities for Bregman, the report suggested that the Blue Jays could be in the driver’s seat.
“In the 2025-26 offseason, the Red Sox, Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks are the four teams in the mix for Bregman after he opted out of his Red Sox contract, with the Tigers having lukewarm interest and taking a wait-and-see approach,” wrote Petzold.
“Although Bregman is determined to sign a long-term contract, two of the four teams – the Red Sox and Cubs – haven’t shown a willingness to make that type of commitment, so if the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks bow out, the Tigers could re-emerge as the only team willing to sign Bregman for at least five years.”
If the Red Sox had a five-year offer on the table, it seems possible Bregman would have taken it by now, judging by the language of Petzold’s report. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, are in an awkward situation with second baseman Ketel Marte. Signing Bregman could very well require Arizona to offload the final five years of Marte’s contract.
The main thing holding the Blue Jays back is that Bregman seems to be their potential third choice. But if Tucker and/or Bichette signs elsewhere, or if the Blue Jays decide Bregman is more affordable than the other two, Toronto’s financial might could prove to be the difference-maker.
Snatching a proven winner and excellent two-way player from a division rival is never a bad idea, and the Red Sox are leaving the door wide-open for the Blue Jays in the Bregman sweepstakes.
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