The Boston Red Sox have yet to improve their offense this offseason since they've spent most of the winter courting either Juan Soto or Alex Bregman, who remains unsigned with only days until spring training begins.
According to multiple reports on their pursuit of Soto, the Red Sox made a $700 million offer to the outfielder, which would have been the largest contract in team history by far had he accepted. The news of Boston's willingness to commit hundreds of millions to Soto made fans optimistic that it would spend this offseason.
But Bregman's $200 million contract demands are too excessive for the Red Sox and, seemingly, most of the other teams in the running for his services. The Astros won't budge from the six-year, $200 million offer they made the veteran earlier in the offseason, which may have ended their time in the Bregman sweepstakes.
During a team luncheon with media, Astros general manager Dana Brown spoke in the past tense regarding the organization's pursuit of its longtime corner infielder. Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that Brown said Houston has "lost Bregman."
Report suggests the Astros could be out on Alex Bregman, which gives the Red Sox a golden opportunity to sign him
A reunion may not be in the cards between the Astros and Alex Bregman
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 4, 2025
via @Chandler_Rome pic.twitter.com/DuQuUVgnHN
Shortly after Rome's tweet, Rob Bradford of WEEI reported that the Red Sox are still among the teams interested in Bregman. The Sox and other clubs have presented him with shorter offers with higher average annual value (AAV).
Bradford also shared that one of the teams in the mix has made Bregman a longer-term offer, and most believe that club is the Blue Jays. Toronto has lost out on multiple top-tier free agents this offseason, from Juan Soto to Roki Sasaki to Corbin Burnes, and signing Bregman — whatever the cost — could help soften the blows.
If the Astros are out on Bregman and he is newly open to accepting short-term offers, the Red Sox could be an ideal destination. The 31-year-old has a history of offensive success at Fenway Park, which could help him bolster his stats that slumped in 2024 to net the long-term deal he seeks next time he hits free agency. Sources also suggest Bregman doesn't want to play in Detroit or Toronto, leaving Boston and the Cubs as the teams in his market.
The Red Sox still haven't replaced Tyler O'Neill's right-handed production from 2024 after he departed in free agency to join the division-rival Orioles. Bregman is the best remaining option on the free agent market to help Boston balance its offense despite his questionable fit with the team as top prospects push for their spots in the infield.
The Sox's main reason for hesitancy in their pursuit of Bregman has been the length of his desired contract. If he is now open to accepting a short-term deal for two or three seasons, Boston has no choice but to sign him. The Red Sox's pitching staff is undoubtedly better than last year, but their former top-10 offense lost 31 home runs of production in O'Neill, and they need to make up for it in any way they can to compete in a wide-open American League.