As the free-agent and trade markets move along and teams continue trying to improve this winter, front offices are determining not just what their rosters need but also which players they think are the best fit for their team. In some cases, that means making a choice between similar options, perhaps with a key difference or two.
Below are a few such pairings, with a look at why a team might want one over the other, or vice versa.
Third base: Nolan Arenado vs. Alex Bregman
The two players who seem to be tethered this offseason are the two primary third basemen on the market, Nolan Arenado and Alex Bregman. While a team would have to swing a trade with St. Louis for Arenado, which isn’t going to be easy given his no-trade clause, the free agent Bregman could sign with any team.
Bregman, 30, is clearly the better player at this point in his career. While his offensive numbers have taken steps back in recent seasons, his 124 wRC+ still ranks sixth among third basemen (min. 500 games) since 2020. Meanwhile, Arenado, 33, is coming off his worst season in terms of offensive production since his rookie year in 2010.
The Yankees, Red Sox and Astros all have a need for a third baseman and have each been connected to both players, though Arenado reportedly blocked a trade to Houston this week. How much each team is willing to spend to fill the position will likely be the determining factor in how this plays out. Bregman comes at a much higher price, likely in the $30 million AAV range, seeing as he has more peak years ahead of him and a consistent record of offensive production with above-average defensive ability.
Arenado has three years and $74 million remaining on his current deal, and the Cardinals might have to eat some of that money in a trade. Because while Arenado is still a well-above-average defender at third, his numbers on offense have taken a few steps back. He’s just two seasons removed from a third-place NL MVP finish, but the team that trades for him will be making a gamble that the 10-time Gold Glove winner will have a bounce-back in ‘25.
First base: Pete Alonso vs. Christian Walker
When it comes to the top of the first-base market, there’s a clear gap between Pete Alonso, Christian Walker and the rest of this year’s class. Alonso, 30, is the big name that comes with a résumé of big-time production and accolades. Only Aaron Judge has more home runs in MLB since Alonso’s debut in 2019, when he won NL Rookie of the Year. And if this is the…