Breaking down Bregman's top suitors ... and each of their chances

Alex Bregman is the best third baseman available in free agency this year, and numerous clubs are expected to bid on the 30-year-old two-time World Series champion. In recent times, three teams in particular have been rumored to be interested in Bregman, with the most obvious being Houston, where he’s played his entire career. The other two are Detroit and Philadelphia. MLB.com beat writers debated the pros and cons for each:

• Bregman contract projections and predictions

Why Bregman makes the most sense for…

Astros: He’s arguably the Astros’ most popular player behind Jose Altuve when it comes to Houston’s run of success over the last decade. Plus, his wife is from Houston and he’s put down some roots in Texas. Bregman said at the end of the season he’d like to remain with the Astros, who took him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 Draft out of LSU. The Astros, who have won seven of the past eight AL West titles and have been to the World Series four times since 2017, are still in a win-now mode, and winning is all Bregman has known. They made the ALCS in his first seven full seasons in the big leagues before falling short last season. Altuve practically pleaded with the Astros to keep Bregman in Houston when the season ended, and owner Jim Crane later admitted Altuve’s words carry meaning. -- Brian McTaggart

Tigers: A look at Detroit’s roster and its season shows a team on the rise with young talent all over the field. Bregman is the veteran leader and proven winner that can help the Tigers take the next step, and the kind of impact right-handed bat to balance out what became a lefty-leaning lineup down the stretch and into the playoffs. His high-walk, lower-strikeout approach at the plate fits the Tigers’ mantra of dominating the strike zone, and his outstanding defense at third base can stabilize a position that has been a revolving door at Comerica Park since Nick Castellanos became an outfielder years ago. Oh, and he played for Tigers manager A.J. Hinch for four years in Houston, including with the 2017 World Series champions. -- Jason Beck

Phillies: The Phillies are looking to shake up the roster following two disappointing finishes in the last two postseasons. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski hinted that trades are coming, and no tradeable player is probably more valuable than All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm. If the Phillies got a good enough return for Bohm, they would need to find a replacement. Who better than Bregman? -- Todd Zolecki

What will each team’s best “pitch” be?

Astros: Bregman will turn 31 at the start of next season, so a six- or seven-year contract extension means he’ll probably finish his career in Houston. Altuve’s extension prior to last season will keep him in Houston until he’s 39 years old, and Bregman could join him as an “Astro for life” if he re-signs with Houston. Altuve desperately wants to Bregman to return, and the two -- the only remaining position players who were on both of Houston’s championship teams -- could finish their careers in Houston as the faces of the golden era of baseball in Houston, the same way Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio were the faces of an Astros team that made the playoffs six times from 1997-2005 (1997-99, ‘01, ‘04-05). -- McTaggart

Tigers: Bregman won playing for Hinch on a blossoming young team before. Why not run it back as the veteran on a team that’s ready to win? Leading another up-and-coming young team to glory would be a boon for his career résumé. Comerica Park doesn’t have the Crawford Boxes, but Spencer Torkelson and Matt Vierling have shown the past couple years that it can be a fair park for right-handed hitters, and a perfect place for Bregman to recapture the doubles numbers he posted early in his career. And Michigan is great for fishing in the summer. -- Beck

Phillies: The Phils have been one of baseball’s best teams the past three years, and Phillies managing partner John Middleton wants a World Series trophy more than anything. And with stars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and others signed for the next few seasons, they’re not going to stop trying anytime soon. -- Zolecki

What’s the biggest hurdle that could stand in the way of Bregman signing?

Astros: Simply put, money. Crane isn’t a believer in signing free agents to lengthy deals, which is why the team has let players like George Springer, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Correa walk in years past. And the fact the Astros have continued to win at a high level even though so many key players have left in free agency proves it’s been a good strategy. Crane has never guaranteed more than five years to a free agent, and the biggest deal he’s given to any player is the $151 million Altuve received with his extension in 2018. The baseline for a Bregman deal may be the six-year, $151 million third baseman Matt Chapman -- also a Scott Boras client -- received from the Giants in September. Regardless, it will take a club-record deal to keep Bregman in Houston. -- McTaggart

Tigers: While the on-field fit with Bregman is obvious, the financial fit is another matter. The Tigers have not been a team for bidding wars; even under the late owner Mike Ilitch, they were more active finding undervalued or overlooked free agents (Pudge Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez, Kenny Rogers) than outbidding teams for highly-sought talent. There’s a ton of payroll space in Detroit, but the Tigers just got past one long-term deal that didn’t age well (Miguel Cabrera), and still have Javier Báez for three more years. President of baseball operations Scott Harris has been more attracted to shorter-term deals and long-term flexibility, both in Detroit and in his previous job as Giants general manager. He might have to weigh how much he wants to stretch a deal to get Bregman. -- Beck

Phillies: The Phillies are almost certainly going to cross the third luxury tax threshold this year. They’d prefer not to push past the fourth, but it would be unavoidable if they signed Bregman. There is speculation that Bregman could be a $30 million a year player. The Athletics' Ken Rosenthal recently wrote that Bregman, however, could be pushing for a contract similar to Manny Machado’s 11-year, $350 million deal. If that’s the case, can the Phillies really afford three $300-million players in Harper, Turner and Bregman, plus Zack Wheeler, who is going to make $42 million this year? -- Zolecki