Alex Bregman Archives - Sports Al Dente

Alex Bregman has reached a 3-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox in Boston

Alex Bregman and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $120 million, three-year contract, as reported by a source familiar with the deal on Wednesday night. The person requested anonymity because the agreement is subject to a successful physical.

Bregman will receive a $5 million signing bonus, a $35 million salary this season, and $40 million each of the next two years, with some deferred payments. He has the option to opt out after the 2025 and 2026 seasons to become a free agent again.

Bregman is expected to move from third base to second base, as the Red Sox already have All-Star Rafael Devers at third.

“I texted him right when it went through last night. I just couldn’t be more fired up to have him here,” said new Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet on Thursday. “I think you look at the intangibles, and he has them all. I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about him being an absolute baseball rat, a guy that loves the game and works hard. Obviously, his pedigree speaks for itself, won a couple of World Series, the Gold Glove last year shows that he’s still at the top of his game.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was Houston’s bench coach in 2017, compared Bregman to former Boston star Dustin Pedroia. Cora was suspended for the 2020 season due to his involvement in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.

“That is a person I really like,” Cora said. “With all those guys we went through a lot. We’re still going through a lot. We made a mistake in ’17 and some of us paid the price. We’re back in baseball. We got a second chance. A.J. (Hinch) got a second chance. I did, too. Carlos (Beltrán) is still getting penalized because he did that. He should be a Hall of Famer already. He should be managing, too.”

Bregman, a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with Houston, is 30 years old and coming off one of his weaker offensive seasons. He hit .260 with 26 homers and 75 RBIs in the final year of a $100 million, five-year deal, and won his first Gold Glove.

Bregman has hit 19 postseason home runs, tied for sixth in MLB history. He was drafted by Houston as the second overall pick in the 2015 draft, made his debut in 2016, and hit .284 with 19 homers, 71 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 2017.

Alex Bregman flips his bat after hitting a home run

He hit four homers and had 10 RBIs in the postseason as the Astros won their first World Series title, a championship that was tainted when an MLB investigation revealed that the team used illegal electronics to steal signs.

Bregman had RBIs in his first five World Series games, homering off Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 and Kenley Jansen in Game 4, and hitting a walk-off 10th-inning single against Jansen in Game 5.

Bregman finished fifth in AL MVP voting in 2018 and second in 2019, which were his two most productive seasons. He batted .286 with 31 homers, 103 RBIs, and a league-leading 51 doubles in 2018, and set career highs the following season with a .296 average, 41 homers, 112 RBIs, and a league-leading 119 walks.

He walked only 44 times in 2024, with a 23.6% chase rate, his highest since 2017.

In nine big league seasons, Bregman has a .272 average, 191 homers, and 663 RBIs.

Since Bregman rejected a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Astros, they will receive an extra pick after the fourth round of the amateur draft in July. Houston forfeited its second- and fifth-highest picks to sign Christian Walker. Boston will lose its second-highest pick for signing Bregman and forfeit $500,000 from its international signing bonus pool.

After finishing with an 81-81 record and missing the playoffs for the third straight season, the Red Sox have added Crochet, along with pitchers Walker Buehler, Patrick Sandoval, Aroldis Chapman, and Justin Wilson.

“I’ve been relatively active in terms of talking to Bres,” Buehler said, referring to chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. “I love to play GM in my head, not that I have any real sway in it, but any time you join a new franchise, or where you have been, you want to feel like you’re a part of it and have some voice in it.”

Reports Indicate Boston Red Sox Shopped Slugger in at Least Two Trade Deals

The Boston Red Sox have been at the center of trade discussions throughout the offseason. While some speculation turned into actual transactions, including deals for Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler, many other rumors never materialized. With Spring Training less than two weeks away, trade talk surrounding the team has not slowed down.

Earlier this winter, Triston Casas found himself mentioned in trade discussions more frequently than anticipated. At one stage, Boston and the Seattle Mariners were linked, and reports indicate that at least two separate trade proposals were declined, according to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times.

Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado remain potential targets for Boston’s lineup (Boston Red Sox)

Mariners’ Trade Talks With Boston

During the MLB Winter Meetings in December, a source with direct knowledge of the discussions revealed that the Red Sox and Mariners explored a trade involving Luis Castillo heading to Boston.

In return, Seattle would have received Casas along with outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida. Talks finally broke down because the Mariners were unwilling to absorb the $56 million remaining on Yoshida’s contract through 2027.

Additionally, reports suggest that in November, Boston had proposed trading Casas for either Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo, two of Seattle’s young starting pitchers. However, the Mariners turned down the offer.

Given the frequency with which Casas’ name surfaced in trade rumors this offseason, hearing about these proposals is not unexpected. What does stand out is Seattle’s apparent reluctance to engage in a deal.

Patrick McAvoy has covered both local and national sports, specializing in baseball and basketball while working with the New England Sports Network. Beyond journalism, he is currently pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University.

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Red Sox and Arenado Rumors

Speculation surrounding the Red Sox continues to gain momentum. Despite a clear need for a premier bat in the middle of their lineup, Boston has yet to make a major addition. The team has been frequently linked to Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado throughout the offseason.

Bregman remains unsigned in free agency, while Arenado is still being floated as a trade candidate. Although acquiring either player would be a major move, discussions about Arenado have been particularly active in recent days. Reports indicate that the Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals have engaged in trade talks regarding the future Hall of Famer.

MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian recently addressed the possibility and expressed strong support for the idea. He suggested that a trade of this magnitude would be something Red Sox fans have long envisioned.

“Raffy Devers would likely move somewhere (like) first base,” Vasgersian said. “Triston Casas would move somewhere (like) DH. I think it would evolve from lineup to lineup, day-to-day, series to series. It would give Alex Cora a big new weapon, and it’s really something to dream on if you’re a Boston Red Sox fan.”

Arenado’s fit with Boston is easy to understand. While his power numbers have dipped in recent seasons, he remains one of the greatest defensive third basemen of all time.

His bat could be more effective at Fenway Park than it has been in St. Louis, and he is under contract for three more years. Meanwhile, acquiring Bregman would likely require a higher financial commitment. The bigger question is what the Red Sox would do with Devers and Casas if Arenado were brought into the mix.