Red Sox deemed 'most likely' fit for ex-Astros $100 million superstar by insider

The Houston Astros could soon lose one of their longest-tenured stars to an up-and-coming rival.

After a sensational nine-year tenure in Houston, Alex Bregman hit free agency hoping to cash in on a contract worth at least $200 million. The Astros tried to broker a reunion early in the offseason, but quickly pivoted to trading for Isaac Paredes to play Bregman's old third base position and signing Christian Walker across the diamond at first base.

Earlier this week, Astros manager Joe Espada said that the "door is still open" for Bregman to return to Houston, as conversations have continued between the two sides even after Houston added Paredes and Walker.

However, one Major League Baseball insider sees one of the Astros' American League foes as the favorite to poach the two-time Houston All-Star.

On Wednesday, insider Jon Heyman said during an appearance on MLB Network that he believes the Red Sox are the "most likely" destination for Bregman this winter.

"Right now, I'm hearing there are five teams in it," Heyman said. "(The Red Sox) have not been a team that have really signed that big free-agent contract. To me, I think they're the most likely, as we sit here at this moment, to sign Alex Bregman." 

In Boston, Bregman would project as the starting second baseman because of the presence of three-time All-Star Rafael Devers at third base. There have been rumors about Boston moving Devers to first base, necessitating a trade of first baseman Triston Casas or designated hitter Masataka Yoshida, but second base is a more obvious current opening. 

With Devers, Trevor Story, Bregman, and Casas from left to right, Boston could suddenly have one of the most well-rounded infields in MLB if everyone stays healthy. 

That's a threat the Astros don't want to contend with in the AL if they don't have to. But if signing Bregman comes down to need and financial flexibility, Boston makes more sense than Houston does at this point.

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