Add the Toronto Blue Jays to the list of teams showing interest in free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.<\/p>\n
The Athletic\u2019s Mitch Bannon wrote<\/a> at the Winter Meetings that Bregman was a \u201cpotential backup plan\u201d if the Blue Jays did not sign right fielder Kyle Tucker or infielder Bo Bichette.<\/p>\n Bregman might be more than that.<\/p>\n Team officials have been in recent contact with Bregman\u2019s agent, Scott Boras, according to sources briefed on the conversations. Ideally, the Jays want to add a left-handed hitter, but either the right-handed Bregman or Bichette would fit their defensive alignment better than Tucker or Cody Bellinger, both of whom bat left.<\/p>\n Bregman almost certainly would stay at third for the Jays, who then would play Ernie Clement at second and Addison Barger in right, with George Springer and Anthony Santander also manning the outfield and serving as DHs. If the Jays signed Bichette to play second, a position he filled for the first time in the World Series, the only difference is that Clement would remain at third.<\/p>\n Bichette, who turns 28 in March, is four years younger than Bregman. The age difference is one reason The Athletic\u2019s Tim Britton projected Bichette<\/a> to sign for eight years, $212 million and Bregman for six years, $171 million.<\/p>\n Perhaps the Jays will simply play the market, but the competition for both players appears intense. Bregman also is drawing interest from his previous club, the Boston Red Sox, as well as the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks and others. Bichette is a target for some of the same teams and other clubs as well.<\/p>\n A separator for Bregman is that teams value him not only for his offense and defense, but also his leadership. Like Kyle Schwarber, who re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for five years, $150 million, Bregman is viewed as a player who helps make teammates better, a difference-maker on and off the field.<\/p>\n Adding to the possible fit with Toronto: Two of Bregman\u2019s former Houston Astros teammates, Springer and outfielder Myles Straw, are among the leading voices in the Jays\u2019 clubhouse, which already is one of the game\u2019s most cohesive.<\/p>\n The Jays, after coming within two outs of winning the World Series, already have signed free-agent righty starters Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce and reliever Tyler Rogers, for a combined $277 million. Righty starter Shane Bieber will return after exercising his $16 million player option. But the Jays will gain payroll flexibility after 2026 with Bieber, Springer, righty Kevin Gausman and center fielder Daulton Varsho all eligible for free agency.<\/p>\n Toronto seems destined to add one of the big free-agent hitters. And Bregman seems as reasonable a possibility as any.<\/p>\n Royals roulette<\/p>\n Some in the industry were surprised to learn of the Kansas City Royals\u2019 trade for lefty reliever Matt Strahm, knowing their swap with the Philadelphia Phillies for righty Jonathan Bowlan added nearly $7 million in payroll.<\/p>\n The Royals had been telling clubs and agents they were operating with limited financial flexibility. But ownership allowed the front office to extend for Strahm, who became a more pressing addition after the Royals traded lefty reliever Angel Zerpa to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Isaac Collins and righty reliever Nick Mears.<\/p>\n Shedding payroll still might be necessary for the Royals to acquire one more hitter, ideally the Red Sox\u2019s Jarren Duran or St. Louis Cardinals\u2019 Brendan Donovan, according to people familiar with their plans. The team remains open to moving moving left-hander Kris Bubic, who is projected to earn $6 million<\/a> in arbitration. A trade of righty reliever John Schreiber ($3.8 million projection) or Bailey Falter ($3.3 million) also would create flexibility.<\/p>\n While the Royals are disinclined to trade their top starting pitchers, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Cole Ragans, they continue to get hit on a variety of others, including Bubic, lefty Noah Cameron and righties Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek and Luinder Avila, sources say.<\/p>\n Cameron, 26, is left-handed and durable, coming off a fourth-place finish in the AL Rookie of the Year voting and a native of St. Joseph, Mo,. about an hour from Kansas City. The Royals do not want to trade him and likely would consider it only for a clear upgrade.<\/p>\n Prices rising for controllable starters?<\/p>\n The big returns the Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates received Friday for right-handers Shane Baz and Mike Burrows, respectively, might only embolden other clubs entertaining offers for controllable starting pitchers.<\/p>\n Baz is under club control for three more seasons, Burrows for six more. Cameron also comes with six additional years of control. Miami Marlins righty Edward Cabrera has three remaining, Washington Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore two.<\/p>\n One difference with Cabrera and Gore is that each made two trips to the injured list last season, while both Baz and Burrows stayed healthy. Then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.<\/p>\n The Nationals might view Gore and Baz as comparable, contending that while Gore is under control for one fewer season, he\u2019s also a better pitcher. The question is whether the Nats could find a team to motivate them the way the Baltimore Orioles motivated the Rays<\/a> with Baz.<\/p>\n The prides of Flowood, Miss.<\/p>\n The game\u2019s consensus No. 1 prospect, Pittsburgh\u2019s Konnor Griffin, reacted excitedly to the Pirates\u2019 trade Friday, quote-tweeting a post by one of the team\u2019s acquisitions, outfielder Jake Mangum.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go!!! \ud83c\udff4\u200d\u2620\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/8I2JixPy8P<\/a><\/p>\n