The Boston Red Sox didn't waste any time bouncing back from the loss of Alex Bregman. Boston signed All-Star left-hander Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $130 million deal on Wednesday. The contract includes no opt-outs, lending further gravity to the swift and explosive transaction pulled off by Craig Breslow and Co.
Like finding $500 on the sidewalk at sunrise after a regrettable all-nighter at the bar, Red Sox fans are still reeling from the Bregman ordeal and are almost too disoriented to jump for joy about Suárez. But you better believe that Red Sox social media will be all abuzz throughout the rest of the week, once the dust settles on this new reality. Then again, ESPN's Buster Olney dropped a post on X shortly after the Suárez news that might severely dampen celebratory reactions in Boston.
This was supposed to be a moment of redemption for Breslow (who may have used clever tactics to snag Suárez)! Instead, Olney and his cool-headed expertise couldn't help but use the Suárez contract as a mirror to show just how ugly Boston's handling of Bregman's free agency really was.
Buster Olney just used the Ranger Suárez news to remind the Red Sox how badly they messed up with Alex Bregman
In the end, the Red Sox offered more money to Ranger Suarez ($130m present day value) than they offered Alex Bregman (closer to $120m NPV) over five-year deals. Given what Bregman was to their team and clubhouse last year, his unique two-way skills in a market that paid Pete…
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 14, 2026
Calling the entire ordeal a "major miscalculation" by the Red Sox, Olney pointed out that Boston just paid Suárez more money ($130 million in present day value) than they offered Bregman (approximately $120 million in net present value) over five-year contracts. According to Olney, this was a big mistake by Boston, given Bregman's immeasurable value to the Red Sox clubhouse, not to mention his All-Star skills on offense and defense.
While Olney's analysis demands the utmost respect, Red Sox fans just flat-out don't want to think this way right now. There's nothing to be done about Bregman at this point. It's a lost cause, so why not move forward immediately, which involves getting pumped about Suárez?
Moreover, if Breslow has another trick up his sleeve and manages to turn more of his young pitching talent into a big bat via trade (or better yet, signs Bo Bichette), missing out on Bregman might (gasp) look like a blessing in disguise down the line. Rather than give in to Bregman's demands about a no-trade clause, Breslow might have just turned the situation into a bona fide No. 2 starter and a bat that rival's Bregman's (or something close). Time will tell, but Craig might be low-key cooking.