LAKELAND, Fla — The Detroit Tigers made their pitch. They put a sizable offer on the table. But in the end, Alex Bregman chose to play for the Boston Red Sox.
As you would expect, the reaction to the final chapter of the Bregman saga was measured at Tiger Town on Thursday.
His decision left Detroit without the star third baseman they had pursued, and it reopened a key question for the team with spring training underway: Who will man the hot corner in Detroit?
Manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged Bregman’s decision but downplayed any ripple effects, expressing confidence in the players already in camp.
“We have a really good group, and we move forward,” Hinch said. “It played out publicly because of the timing, but this stuff happens all the time across the sport. It’s just front and center because of where we’re at going into spring.”
As for the looming position battle, Hinch said nothing has changed.
Will Matt Vierling be in the mix? Rookie Jace Jung? Veterans Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibanez?
Yes, yes and yes, Hinch said.
“We have plenty of time for that. I know it’s a big topic, but everybody knows the guys in camp. If you think they’re in the mix, they are, because they’re in camp,” he said. “It’s going to be a healthy dose of guys.”
Hinch said he wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an overall increase in the eagerness of players to do work at third base.
“Watch them. Everybody knows where the at-bats are,” he said. “We’ve shown over the last season how we use our roster and try to maximize opportunities. If someone steps up and grabs the at-bats that are available, great. That’s what we hope for.”
Bregman, who turns 31 in March, signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox late Wednesday night. The contract, which includes deferred money, allows him to opt out after the first and second seasons.
Bregman is a two-time All-Star and MVP finalist who has spent his entire career with the Houston Astros, including five seasons with Hinch at the helm.
But Hinch said he didn’t take the snub more personally because of his relationship with Bregman.
“At the end of the day, I’ve been in this game a long time,” he said. “I value all these relationships, both the ones I have now and the ones from the past. It’s a competitive sport that’s always changing. You see a lot of people moving teams, but you have to take it for what it is and move into the next phase.”
Tigers reliever Alex Lange also knows Bregman personally. They were teammates at LSU.
Lange said Bregman would have been a huge addition, but he believes in the Tigers’ internal options.
“Breg’s an all-time player, man. Before I played with Miguel Cabrera, he was probably the best player I’d ever played with,” Lange said. “His intuition for the game is second to none — he knows the game inside and out. He works his ass off, so I’m happy for him to get his money.
“He’s a hell of a ballplayer, and it’s been a pleasure to watch him and play with him. It would have been nice to have him, but we’ve got a pretty good third baseman in Vierling, so I’m excited to see him take over there.”
Lange’s endorsement of Vierling, while sincere, may have been premature.
Hinch made it clear that the position was wide open.
“The opportunity is there, and we have a lot of really good guys who prepared all offseason for it,” he said.
Had the Tigers landed Bregman, Vierling might have been able to pack away his infield glove for good. Instead, he knows he must be ready to contribute if called upon.
A natural outfielder, Vierling said he’s made strides at third over the last two years.
“I feel more comfortable now than I did,” he said. “In ’23, I played there a bunch, and that was a big adjustment. Then last year, I played even more, and the biggest thing for me was getting those high-pressure game experiences. In ’23, I didn’t play a ton of games where the pressure was really on, where I had to make a play at third.
“This past year, I played in the playoffs at third, which was another checkpoint. Even just playing late in an important game and having to make a play or two — that’s a big checkpoint for me. So I feel a lot more comfortable going into this year, knowing what works for me and how I need to play over there.”
Vierling said he doesn’t know Bregman personally but congratulated him on the $40 million salary.
“I love seeing guys get paid. More power to him. I’m fired up for him.”
With the monthlong Bregman sweepstakes in the books, Hinch seemed eager to turn the page — at least until he potentially becomes a free agent again next winter.
“For what we need to accomplish, we have to focus on here,” he said.
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