In the coming weeks, one of the hottest topics surrounding the Boston Red Sox will undoubtedly be the future of third baseman Alex Bregman.
Will he choose to opt out of his three-year, \$120 million deal with the team and test free agency? If he does, will the Red Sox manage to retain him, or will another club swoop in with an irresistible offer? Boston certainly has the financial flexibility to keep Bregman—especially after trading Rafael Devers in June and shedding his sizable contract.
It’ll definitely be interesting to see how things unfold, and unsurprisingly, the situation has already sparked plenty of opinions. For instance, Chris Landers of FanSided predicted that the Red Sox will part ways with Bregman this offseason, pointing to owner John Henry’s approach to spending as the key factor behind that potential decision.
Will the Red Sox bring Alex Bregman back?
“Alex Bregman,” Landers said. “I could take the easy route here and go with someone like Dustin May, a pending free agent who hasn’t exactly covered himself in glory since coming to Boston at the trade deadline. And to be clear: Boston should do whatever is necessary to make sure Bregman spends the rest of his career at Fenway Park.
“But all those full-throttle jokes exist for a reason – John Henry is rarely willing to spend more than his model tells him he should, and the Bregman market has the potential to get silly once he opts out of his current contract at the end of the year. Just think of all the potential suitors who figure to have money to burn and a potential hole in the infield, from the Yankees to the Tigers to the Cubs to even a wild card like the Angels. Bregman’s been too good this year not to break the bank; will Boston be willing to go that far?”
The uncertainty surrounding Bregman’s future is valid, but criticizing Henry’s spending isn’t entirely fair at this point. That’s because Boston’s financial approach has shifted since last offseason. They were serious contenders for Juan Soto with a bid exceeding $700 million and were also pursuing Max Fried before he signed with the Yankees. The Red Sox then traded for Garrett Crochet and gave him a six-year, $170 million extension.
Boston has shown a willingness to spend where others haven’t, including originally offering Bregman his $120 million deal. The team has also been proactive in locking up young talent like Kristian Campbell and Roman Anthony with long-term contracts. In the past, questioning Boston’s spending habits might have made more sense, but that’s less accurate now. As for Bregman, whether he returns or not probably won’t come down to money alone.
Leave a Reply