Arizona Diamondbacks Have Become ‘Surprise Entrant’ In Alex Bregman Sweepstakes
The Arizona Diamondbacks will look to return to the playoffs in 2026, and are reportedly kicking the tires on Third Baseman Alex Bregman, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. If they were to trade Second Baseman Ketel Marte, it would free up money, making a potential pursuit of Bregman more realistic.
Will the Diamondbacks Make a Splash?
I think the Diamondbacks are a dark horse option for Bregman, similar to the San Francisco Giants and Third Baseman Matt Chapman a few years ago. Many teams are going to be hesitant to give Bregman a long-term contract, but the Diamondbacks can afford him, and he would pair well with many of their young, up-and-coming talent. They would bring in much-needed offensive production if they traded Marte and could move Jordan Lawlar to second.
If they did trade Marte, they would add some much-needed pitching and could put themselves in a great position to compete next season. The pitching staff is going to get stronger with the return of Corbin Burnes, who missed much of the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
The Arizona Diamondbacks played surprisingly well down the stretch last season after trading key pieces at the deadline. If they can continue to add onto their rotation, they’ll be one of the top teams in the National League. They’ve already brought back Merrill Kelly, who has been a reliable starter and is familiar with the organization after being traded to the Texas Rangers last year.
Who Will Pay Up For Alex Bregman?
I still believe that the Boston Red Sox remain the frontrunners for Bregman this winter, but that could change if they make a blockbuster trade for an infielder. They’ve checked in on Rangers Shortstop Corey Seager and Ketel Marte. It sounds like Boston is being aggressive on all fronts to upgrade their roster. Bregman played a key role in their return to the playoffs last season.
Overall, the market has moved very slowly, and I’d expect Bregman’s market to drag into January. Scott Boras has shown in the past that he isn’t afraid to wait things out to get the best deal for his clients, and Bregman could wait to sign after many of the bigger names, like Marte and Brendan Donovan, get moved in. This will likely be the last big contract of his career, and he will do whatever it takes to land a big deal after failing to do so last offseason.
