Alex Bregman looms large as Mets weigh long-term risks; Bo Bichette speculation heats up in Toronto

Third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Bo Bichette are among the top free agents available on the market. Both are receiving a lot of attention from several teams in need of an All-Star caliber player to join their infield.

As we begin this week, MLB insiders have offered the latest updates on these two high-quality players.

Insider highlights Mets weighing Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette’s free agency

The New York Mets are showing interest in infielders this offseason after losing Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles in free agency. They need help on the field and guys who can produce at their maximum. Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette are the best fit on the market, but there is a sense of hesitancy within the Mets front office to make a move on them.

According to Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal, both infielders are seeking long-term deals that the Mets are not willing to offer.

This is the same thing that happened with Alonso’s free agency. David Stearns & Co. couldn’t make a deal with the Polar Bear and therefore lost its local star. So, it may be time to re-evaluate their strategy or see other teams pounce on these valuable free agents with better, long-term deals.

Robert Murray predicts Bo Bichette will most likely return to Toronto

MLB insider Robert Murray can feel the excitement this offseason for the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday after the team made its first World Series appearance since the ’90s. The franchise is taking this offseason very seriously, it seems, as it is earmarked as a landing spot for several top free agents, including Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker.

“People are excited about Toronto,” Murray said. “You talk to agents, you talk to players, you talk to, I mean, anyone else in the league, and being in Toronto is considered a really good thing. You have a winning ball club, it’s a great city for baseball, and they’re looking at all kinds of different options here.”

According to Murray, Bichette could return to the Blue Jays on a new contract before the 2026 season because the fit is ideal in many ways.

“A Bichette reunion is definitely on the table with them, it’s something they would love,” Murray added. “He’s obviously a local player there, someone they know inside and out. For me, I think that fit makes a lot of sense for them.”

Murray also predicted that Tucker, who is expected to sign a contract worth around $400 million, could also be drafted by the Blue Jays. The insider predicted Toronto could sign both.