The Alex Bregman era with the Red Sox is over, and it's a significant blow for the team. After a year of anticipation, negotiations, and a playoff run that ended abruptly, the Red Sox are moving forward without one of their key players.
Bregman has signed a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, according to a league source. This deal is a win for Bregman, who secured the long-term, high-value contract he was seeking. He bet on himself, and it paid off handsomely.
For the Red Sox, this departure leaves a considerable void in their infield, lineup, and clubhouse. They'll need to find a replacement for Bregman's contributions, both on and off the field.
Following their trade for first baseman Willson Contreras, the Red Sox were looking to add another hitter. With Bregman gone, that need remains. They currently lack a set starter at third base, second base, or designated hitter, so finding someone to fill one of those spots, or getting creative with their current players, seems to be the most likely path.
Bregman, who turns 32 in March, provided a memorable one-year stint with the Red Sox. He and the team agreed to a three-year, $120 million contract, but it wasn't until mid-February. This short-term deal included opt-out clauses after each of the first two seasons, allowing Bregman to re-enter free agency if he felt he could get a better deal.
He was a key player, hitting in the middle of the order, solidifying the infield defense, and becoming a leader in the clubhouse. He was instrumental in the team's playoff qualification for the first time in four years.
In a typical season, Bregman hit .273 with a .360 on-base percentage and a .462 slugging percentage. However, he performed better before a right quad injury in late May, which sidelined him for seven weeks. His 18 home runs and 62 RBIs were partly due to missing a significant portion of the season.
Bregman exercised his opt-out clause in November, as expected. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora consistently praised him, and Breslow even mentioned that they still had a chance to re-sign him.
But here's where it gets controversial... The Red Sox have a recent history of not offering long-term contracts to players in their 30s. Aside from Bregman's one-year deal, the largest contract awarded during Breslow's tenure was Lucas Giolito's two years and $38.5 million.
The Red Sox have favored investing in younger players already on the team, such as Garrett Crochet (six years, $170 million) and Roman Anthony (eight years, $130 million).
With Bregman, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, and Jorge Polanco off the market, the Red Sox still have options. They've been linked to several free-agent and trade-target hitters, including Bo Bichette and Eugenio Suárez, as well as Brendan Donovan and Isaac Paredes.
And this is the part most people miss... The need for offense stems from the trade of Rafael Devers. When Bregman joined the Red Sox, Devers was moved from third base. After reluctantly becoming the designated hitter and refusing to learn first base, the Red Sox traded him to the Giants in June. San Francisco agreed to pay Devers the remainder of his approximately $254 million through 2033.
Six months later, the Red Sox are without both Devers and Bregman and need to fill the gaps.
What do you think of the Red Sox's strategy of not signing older players to long-term deals? Do you agree with the team's approach, or do you think they should have made an exception for Bregman? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
