The clock is ticking on Alex Bregman's free agency, and the Boston Red Sox don't seem any closer to signing him than they were two months ago.
Boston and Bregman's representation have been in touch for most of the offseason, and the two sides have disagreed on contract terms all the while. Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, seek a six to seven-year deal in the $200 million range. The Red Sox, meanwhile, won't offer him more than four years.
Bregman is dead-set on his ideal contract and declined a six-year, $156 million deal from his longtime club, the Astros, earlier this offseason. Houston's offer is a far cry from the $200 million Bregman hopes for, but it's more than the Red Sox would ever offer.
The third baseman's market has been smaller than expected for much of the winter. The Red Sox, Tigers and Blue Jays have been connected to him the longest, but Boston's waiting game has allowed the market to open back up to the Astros and Cubs. Like Boston, Chicago also hopes Bregman will sign a short-term offer. Houston's $156 million check remains on the table even after Bregman's initial denial, and it could be the nail in the Red Sox's coffin.
Alex Bregman still declining Astros six-year, $156 million offer does not bode well for the Red Sox, who won't even offer a competitive deal
Astros are trying to bring back Alex Bregman. They’re still willing to do (at least) $156M, 6 yrs, but one reason he declined that earlier is it’s a cut from $28.5M salary. There’s said another team offering 6 w/1st year optout ($ unknown). Among others in: Cubs, Bosox, Tigers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 27, 2025
The veteran has played all nine seasons of his big league career with the Astros. He's won two World Series with the organization, which has appeared in every single postseason since 2017. The Red Sox haven't posted a winning record in the last three seasons, and the idea that Bregman would leave the Astros, a perennial playoff contender and division leader in the American League West, to play for a team on a losing track for less time and money is utterly delusional from the front office.
Boston has made no improvements to its offense all winter after putting all its eggs in the Bregman and Juan Soto baskets. The Astros signed Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes to shore up their infield. On paper, one team's commitment to winning appears far more serious, especially because the other team hasn't won anything of consequence in at least four years.
Luckily for the Sox, Houston may already be pivoting again, as it's been linked to free agent infielder Jorge Polanco since Bregman's market opened back up. The Astros signing someone else may be the only way the Red Sox get their man at this point — Bregman would have to be desperate enough to sign whatever inferior offer Boston puts in front of him.
But fans and players expect the Red Sox to be better than this. And if they don't sign Bregman, landing top free agents in the future will only get harder, and they're already struggling right now.