While the Minnesota Twins have had a quiet offseason, the hot stove is beginning to heat up for one division rival.
According to a report from the Detroit Free Press’s Evan Petzold, the Detroit Tigers are “all-in” on signing Alex Bregman. The former Houston Astros legend is one of the top free agents currently on the market and with the door closed on a return, Petzold reports the sides have mutual interest in helping Bregman land in Motown.
“The Tigers appear to be all-in on Bregman. Both sides are engaged in ongoing discussions with mutual interest but there has been a gap in value as Bregman’s market narrows.”
The Detroit Tigers are doing what the Minnesota Twins should have done last winter
While most of the American League Central has been focused on shedding payroll or avoiding arbitration-eligible players this offseason, the Tigers have taken an opposite approach.
Detroit made the playoffs for the first time since 2014 last season. While they lost in five games to the Cleveland Guardians in the American League divisional series, they’ve focused on improving their roster including moving Colt Keith to first base to replace the struggling Spencer Torkelson.
The moves didn’t come instantly but the Tigers signed Gleyber Torres to a one-year, $15 million contract last week to replace Keith at second base. Adding Bregman would be another step in the right direction after FanGraphs ranked their third base situation tied for 20th in MLB heading into the winter.
In many ways, the Tigers are doing what the Twins should have done after the 2023 season. While they ended an 18-game postseason losing streak, ownership slashed payroll by $30 million heading into last year in an event that allowed the Tigers to overcome a double-digit deficit in the American League Wild Card standings last summer.
With the Twins likely to operate with a payroll of around $130 million this offseason, their only offseason move has been a trade to acquire Mickey Gasper from the Boston Red Sox. Offseason rumors have centered more on getting rid of high-priced players such as Carlos Correa and Pablo López rather than improving the roster and fans are waiting for a new owner to come in and breathe life into the team as opposed to hoping for their first World Series appearance since 1991.
If the Tigers add Bregman, it could make the Twins odds of winning the division even longer and lead to more apathy heading into the new year.