Most fans know by now that the Boston Red Sox bungled their free agent negotiations with 2025 star third baseman Alex Bregman. Still, over a month after he signed with the Chicago Cubs, insiders continue to release updates on Boston's failed pursuit, and none of them make the team look any better.
MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Bregman's latest thoughts on his Red Sox departure, which he didn't share as freely as Sam Kennedy shared his. When asked if Boston's refusal to offer him a no-trade clause was the reason he signed elsewhere, Bregman kept his answer vague.
“It was more than just that," Bregman said. "I didn’t know, I really didn’t know... I obviously loved my time there. Love all of the guys there. Love AC. I’ll always cherish it.
“I just really don’t want to get into it, it’s not worth it," he added.
Alex Bregman's statements on picking Cubs over Red Sox don't make Boston look any better
That's a whole lot better than, "If Alex Bregman wanted to be here, ultimately, he’d be here” (subscription required). The situation is obviously more complicated than that and the Red Sox must know it. Bregman also had no compliments for the men in charge in the front office, which is certainly noteworthy, given his affinity for seemingly everyone else.
Nightengale reports that the Red Sox were so convinced that Scott Boras was bluffing when he said Bregman had other offers that they made him a "take it or leave it" offer. Boston assumed it'd be betting against itself if it increased its offer to the third baseman, though it makes little sense why.
The Red Sox were the first team Bregman signed with as a free agent after years with the same Houston Astros squad. He fell right into step with Boston's players, was immediately billed as a leader and quickly found offensive success with his new club. The front office's assumption that no other team would want to sign him after his loud success with the Red Sox was shortsighted and, clearly, wrong.
The Red Sox evidently based much of their offseason strategy around the idea that Bregman would return. They didn't make an offer to slugger Kyle Schwarber despite his previous fit at Fenway Park and they made an embarrassing offer to Pete Alonso, who's now a division rival. Boston's infield defense and its offense are at risk of being weaker than last year as a result of its overconfidence that it was a top free agent destination, which it hasn't been for nearly a half decade.
Losing Bregman was like a kick in the teeth, especially after the disastrous Rafael Devers trade. But both third basemen are in Boston's past, and it needs to move on (which will only happen if the front office can keep it together). Hopefully, the Red Sox learned from their ill-advised negotiation tactics, but after the last six years of free agent pursuits by the organization, fans probably shouldn't bank on it.