Yankees' door to potential Alex Bregman deal might've finally opened a crack

For weeks, we've been nebulously told that the New York Yankees planned to address their infield vacancy eventually, but would semi-desperately attempt to dangle Marcus Stroman in trade talks before doing so.

So ... what should fans expect if that deal does get done? Would the Yankees splurge on a higher tier of infielder, or do they require Stoman's cash clearing before they can even dare to pursue a lesser option like Jorge Polanco? Even Jack Curry was cagey on a recent episode of YES Hot Stove. Hey, maybe the Yankees can get creative if they ditch that Stroman money! Or, hey, maybe not. That's what's so great about life -- you never know how it'll spin and turn, or how much of your happiness hinges on a sixth starter's paycheck.

Alas, the dirty, rotten secret is that ... there aren't very many "creative splurge infielders" still around. Nolan Arenado represents a three-year semi-exorbitant cost, but does he bring you more than a league-average bat moving forward? Absorbing Carlos Correa's deal would represent the most creative swing, but that doesn't seem likely to materialize, and is complicated by non-financial forces.

Alex Bregman, though? That could get interesting, the longer he lingers. Bregman turned down a reported six-year, $156 million deal from the Astros earlier this offseason, who've since moved on. He's still lingering on the market, with the Red Sox, Tigers and Blue Jays reportedly on his tail, though none of those three teams have lined up on dollar figures with his camp yet. Is he going to beat 6/$156M? Seems doubtful, suddenly.

The Yankees were never going to engage with Bregman on a long-term, Astros-topping deal, but as he flaps in the breeze, the door to a union might open just a crack if he begins to consider short-term deals with opt-outs attached, like Scott Boras' fleet of clients were forced to last winter. According to Cubs insider Bruce Levine, Boras, Bregman, and Chicago have at least discussed such a possibility lately.

Get rid of Stroman's cash (or most of it), offer Bregman the $26 million AAV he sought from the Astros on a three-year deal with an opt out after Year 1, and ... profit? Live in the best of both worlds? Who says no?

Yankees should sign Alex Bregman to same short-term deal that Cubs are flirting with

Bregman probably does, considering he doesn't seem intent on giving up the dream of long-term security just yet. But Boston's front office doesn't seem to be in lockstep with the manager on acquiescing to Bregman's demands, and Toronto and Detroit aren't budging to the degree necessary to tempt him financially.

Would the former shortstop who wears No. 2 in honor of a certain Yankee be willing to take a shorter-term plunge in the Bronx? It sounds more appealing than doing so in Chicago.

We still wouldn't bank on it, but this was a completely open and shut case as recently as Tuesday morning. Now? There's a chance.