Yankees predicted to pull off $185 million heist of Astros superstar by insider
The Houston Astros would prefer that their superstars stay in town as long as possible. But if they’re going to leave, there’s one place the Astros wouldn’t want them to go above all others.
This winter, Astros third baseman Alex Bregman is the superstar that Houston risks losing to the highest bidder. Houston’s payroll was the third-highest in Major League Baseball this season, so keeping Bregman around could prove to be a challenge.
If Bregman is going to go anywhere, a major threat could be the team with the second-highest payroll in MLB. It happens to be a team the Astros have a long history of despising: the New York Yankees.
The Yankees need a third baseman, and Bregman is clearly the best option available on the market this winter. That led Bob Nightengale of USA Today to predict that New York would poach the nine-year Astros star in a blockbuster move this winter.
“Bregman has always loved the spotlight, dreamed of playing on the big stage, and what’s bigger than New York,” Nightengale said. “He’ll have both New York teams bidding for him but the Yankees will be the ultimate winner.”
Bregman was drafted second overall by the Astros in 2015, so going to the Yankees a decade later would be the ultimate heel-turn. But both teams seemingly need third basemen, and money talks just as loudly as loyalty in these situations.
If the Yankees have any advantage over Houston in the Bregman sweepstakes, it might be their ability to outbid them. Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently projected a seven-year, $185.5 million contract for the longtime Astros star, which would stretch Houston’s payroll to its limit.
Landing Bregman to the Yankees could be the final sign that the Astros’ reign atop the American League is well and truly over. But until ink is put to paper, the pursuit of a reunion continues.
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