Red Sox
The report comes three days after another insider said it’s unlikely a deal between Boston and Bregman will get done.
The Alex Bregman sweepstakes continues, with less than two weeks until the Red Sox’ first full-squad spring training workout.
A report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale Friday listed Boston as “co-favorites” to sign the free agent third baseman (who is open to moving to second base) alongside the Detroit Tigers. Nightengale also said there’s “no movement” between Bregman and his incumbent team, the Houston Astros, regarding a return.
However, reports from two other MLB insiders earlier this week told a different story in terms of the Red Sox’ suitorship.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported on Monday that Bregman and the Astros are at a contract impasse. He reported Houston offered him a six-year, $156 million deal, but the player declined because the average annual value was lower than his previous salary.
That news does not bode well for Boston, which seems unlikely to hand out that hefty of a contract, especially to a player entering his age 31 season.
The last major league hitter the Red Sox signed was Adam Duvall to a one-year, $7 million deal in January 2023, and the team hasn’t been eager to sign any free agents to longterm deals in recent memory.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan threw water on Boston’s likelihood of inking Bregman on Tuesday.
“I don’t think Boston is particularly likely to happen at this point,” Passan said on “The Michael Kay Show.”
Passan also said that the Tigers “make a lot of sense” for Bregman, noting that he played for Detroit’s manager, A.J. Hinch, in Houston. However, he also explained that the Astros “probably make the most sense” for the player.
The Astros’ owner, Jim Crane, is unlikely to offer Bregman a larger contract, though, Passan said.
Right now, it feels like the Red Sox are content with starting the 2025 season with their current roster. This doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t land Bregman, but it could mean they won’t be inclined to up Houston’s reported latest offer to him.
Boston signed third baseman Abraham Toro to a minor league contract on Tuesday, which could also indicate the organization is shifting its efforts away from Bregman.
The Red Sox have been linked to him for much of this offseason. But given the amount of money it appears it would take to sign Bregman, it sounds like it would take an increased offer from Boston to seal the deal.
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