The wounds Boston Red Sox fans felt after losing Alex Bregman to the Chicao Cubs are still fresh, but they started healing over after the Sox bounced back with their first free agent signing of the winter. The pain returned soon enough, however.
On January 15, Bregman's signing with the Cubs was made official. He and his family made their first appearance at Wrigley Field for his introductory press conference, and Bregman wasn't afraid to remind the Red Sox that they fumbled hard.
"...Being able to be in a place that offered stability and a place that showed how much they cared about what was important to me, was super important to myself, my family. I have a young family and we can’t wait to raise our kids in Chicago,” Bregman said in response to a question about the importance of having a no-trade clause in his contract.
The no-trade clause was clearly the biggest point of disagreement between the Red Sox and Bregman. The lack of one in his contract offers from Boston is ultimately what pushed him to Chicago.
Former Red Sox Alex Bregman doubles down on the importance of the no-trade clause in his contract with the Cubs
It's easy to see why Bregman would demand such protection, especially from the Red Sox. Not only has he earned the right to security as a multiple-time World Series champion and a star in this league, he watched as the Red Sox traded Rafael Devers away — who was under contract for five more years than Bregman was going to get — without a clear backup plan, which they still don't have.
Early this offseason, Bregman was upfront about the importance of security and stability with his future team. In a June interview with Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Bregman said that finding a club he could play the rest of his career with was "definitely a very high priority.” The Red Sox were well aware of what it would take to sign Bregman, but didn't want to concede their ability to offload his check at their convenience, as they've done with many of their star players since John Henry and Fenway Sports Group took over.
Bregman was the best fit for Boston's lineup, which has struggled defensively for years and is now desperate for right-handed hitters. But not even the Red Sox's utter desperation was enough for them to grant a star free agent job security, which is yet another terrible look for a team that can't afford many more.