(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Ever since making his MLB debut in 2016, Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman has been a huge part of the franchise’s success.
He has been a mainstay at the hot corner during the run that has yielded two World Series championships, four World Series appearances, and six AL Championship Series.
Since peaking in 2019, when he finished second to Mike Trout in the AL MVP voting, Bregman has been more of a steady, consistent performer than an explosive star.
This year, however, he has returned to top form and is putting up some really impressive numbers across the board.
“Alex Bregman crossed the five-win threshold yesterday, according to Baseball-Reference’s version of WAR. He is the only Astros player worth at least 5 bWAR. It’s Bregman’s best season by bWAR since finishing as MVP runner-up in 2019. Bregman is a free agent after next season,” Astros insider Chandler Rome tweeted.
Alex Bregman crossed the five-win threshold yesterday, according to Baseball-Reference’s version of WAR. He is the only Astros player worth at least 5 bWAR. It’s Bregman’s best season by bWAR since finishing as MVP runner-up in 2019. Bregman is a free agent after next season.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 18, 2023
The five-WAR threshold confirms what we all know: Bregman has had an incredible season.
He is hitting .269/.368/.446 with 23 home runs, 95 RBI, 83 walks, and 82 strikeouts.
That’s good for an .814 OPS, and if we combine that with his solid glove, we have an incredibly underrated player.
The Astros have several extension candidates to sign in the next couple of offseasons: Jose Altuve and Bregman are free agents after the 2024 campaign, and Framber Valdez and Kyle Tucker will hit the market after 2025.
They might not be able to retain them all, but they shouldn’t let Bregman become a free agent.
There just aren’t that many productive third basemen that could become available in the short-term.
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