Bauer challenges Bregman to batting-cage showdown for charity

The social media beef between Tyler Trevor Bauer and Alex Bregman has spilled into the offseason.

Last year, Bauer drew the ire of Bregman and other members of the Houston Astros when he suggested Astros pitchers might have been doctoring the baseball. That prompted several back-and-forths between members of both the Astros and Cleveland Indians organizations through the press and social media, with Bregman leading the charge.

On Tuesday, Bauer turned things up a notch during an otherwise slow offseason day by challenging active players to hit off him during offseason workouts at DriveLine Baseball. He specifically tagged Bregman in a tweet, to which the infielder responded with a little more trash talk.

That response apparently didn't sit well with Bauer, because on Wednesday he once again publicly called on Bregman to face him in the cage while sweetening the pot for charity.

Bregman has yet to respond to Bauer's latest offer.

For the record, Bregman has had Bauer's number over his career. Including the playoffs, he's 4-for-13 (.308) with three extra-base hits and four RBIs against the right-hander.

Should they not square off in the cages this winter, Bregman and Bauer's first chance to face each other in 2019 could come on April 25, when the Astros and Indians open a four-game series in Houston.