Bregman, unlike other free agent stars, has waited out his market perhaps to sign the last lucrative, long-term contract of his MLB career.
And if that is what Bregman wants — all reports indicate that — it doesn’t look like he’ll be getting it from the Red Sox.
According to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, the Red Sox have had conversations with Bregman throughout the offseason and are looking to land the two-time World Series champion on a shorter-term deal. Speier, who cited multiple sources, wrote the Red Sox “interest had been in a deal of no more than four years” for the veteran third baseman.
Bregman’s age — he turns 31 at the end of March — and decrease in production this past season probably is why the Red Sox don’t want to make a massive financial commitment to Bregman. Boston has highly-rated prospect Kristian Campbell, who can play second or third, on the precipice of the big leagues as well.
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It appears other teams are willing to back up the brinks truck for Bregman, though. Ari Alexander of KPRC2 in Houston reported the Astros still have their six-year, $156 million deal to Bregman, which he initially rejected, on the table. Alexander also reported “at least three teams have offered Bregman a deal of five years or longer this offseason.”
The Red Sox may or may not be one of those teams. But if they aren’t, they will most likely have to move off their spot in regards to a contract offer if they want Bregman in a Red Sox uniform. Or hope Alex Cora’s relationship with Bregman is so strong that Bregman will take what Boston offers him.
