The Atlanta Braves were reportedly very interested in signing Milwaukee Brewers free-agent shortstop Willy Adames, but they fell short in securing him. Adames has now reached an agreement with the San Francisco Giants for a deal close to $200 million.
With this setback, the Braves will need to focus on other infielders to fill the shortstop position, especially given Orlando Arcia’s struggles in 2024. Although the ideal candidate may not be available, Atlanta could consider some unconventional options for the role.
Christopher Kline from FanSided has put forward an unconventional suggestion for the Braves. He recently proposed that Atlanta pursue Houston Astros free agent Alex Bregman.
Bregman is expected to sign a four-year, $119 million deal according to Spotrac, though the final figure is likely to approach $200 million.
“We should preface this by saying it almost definitely won’t happen, but there’s a strong case for Alex Bregman as a top Braves target,” Kline wrote.
“His price could match or exceed Adames’ $182 million, so proceed with caution, but Bregman is a two-time World Series champion with nearly a decade of postseason experience. For an Atlanta team aiming to reach the pinnacle, that could be very appealing.”
The main issue here is position. Bregman isn’t a shortstop, but he’s reportedly open to switching positions if the right opportunity arises.
In Atlanta, Bregman could play second base, with Ozzie Albies moving to shortstop. While the Braves do have a shortstop problem, it’s unclear if committing $200 million to Bregman, who is already 30 years old, is worth it.
Teams like the Astros, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and New York Mets are expected to pursue Bregman aggressively, making it difficult for the Braves to compete.
