The Seattle Mariners have been looking up at the Houston Astros for years in the American League West. For a while, that seemed destined to change in 2024, but now, the two teams are in a dead heat.
Entering play Monday, the Astros and Mariners are tied for the division lead, though the Astros hold the tiebreaker on winning percentage. It's shaping up to be one of baseball's tightest races down the stretch, with both teams heating up after the All-Star break.
With so much animosity between the two clubs, it's hard to envision any of the star players on either team joining their rivals. But when free agency hits, all bets are off.
Such is the case for Alex Bregman, who is in his final year of the extension he signed with Houston in 2019. Though he has spent his entire career with the Astros, one insider believes it is realistic Bregman could be headed to Seattle in 2025.
Ken Rosenthal, a top MLB insider for The Athletic, speculated on Fair Territory Monday that the Mariners could be a top fit for Bregman on the free agent market.
"The Mariners, that's certainly a spot they could look to address," Rosenthal said. "(Bregman is) still an above-average offensive player, and of course, a consistent player overall."
Bregman, 30, is not having his strongest season on the whole. His .754 OPS would be a career-low, and his on-base percentage has plummeted nearly 50 points below his career average.
On the other hand, Bregman has come on strong as of late. He homered in back-to-back games in the Astros' sweep of the Boston Red Sox this weekend to up his season total to 17. Going back further, Bregman has posted a .288/.342/.518 slash line since May 13.
Even if Bregman continues to be the player he is this year, rather than the player he was at his peak, it's far better than what the Mariners have in house. Their .651 OPS and nine home runs by third basemen are both tied for 23rd in MLB.
The two teams will square off just once more this season--September 23-25 in Houston. Bregman's performance in that series could very well help decide the division. But it also serves as a de facto showcase for both teams moving forward.
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