Astros predicted to lose superstar Alex Bregman to defending World Series champs?

The Houston Astros appear to have re-entered the chat.

It once seemed like a foregone conclusion that longtime Astros star Alex Bregman would leave in free agency. But in recent days, the door appears to have re-opened, with reports that the Astros' original offer of six years, $156 million is still on the table. 

Though Bregman's market has been slow to move, the Astros still might face powerful threats in their quest to bring back the two-time All-Star. One threat they should, in theory, be safe from, is the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers can't possibly sign another expensive superstar, can they? They've already got more infielders than they know what to do with, and their projected payroll is already on pace to blow the single-season record out of the water.

Think again. ESPN's David Schoenfield surprisingly predicted Friday that the Dodgers would not only pursue Bregman, but that LA would be the team to actually land him before the 2025 season.

"If Bregman can't find the big deal he wants, the Dodgers might be a surprise fit. Max Muncy is a free agent after 2025 and prone to strikeouts. Hyeseong Kim's bat projects as more of a utility infielder than a starting second baseman," Schoenfield wrote.

"Bregman can shift between second and third in 2025 and then replace Muncy in 2026... The Dodgers have $49.5 million coming off the books after this season (and the pitching staff is set for years)."

The positional stuff gets weird quickly, but it appears Bregman isn't a perfect fit for anyone's lineup right now, because the Astros are talking about moving Jose Altuve to left field and Isaac Paredes to second base to accommodate him. 

If Bregman signs with the Dodgers, the calls for Major League Baseball to do something about LA's dominance in free agency, whether they are fair or unfair, will only grow louder.

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