How the Cubs-Edward Cabrera trade set up Red Sox for Alex Bregman heartbreak

The Boston Red Sox were only ever tangentially connected to Edward Cabrera on the trade market — his extensive arm injury history probably wasn't very attractive to Craig Breslow — though it was nice to see thee Chicago Cubs swipe him from under the New York Yankees' nose.

However, the trade still yielded some adverse effects for the Red Sox. Cabrera just signed a one-year, $4.45 million deal to avoid arbitration, making him a cheap addition to the top of the Cubs' rotation. That gave Chicago plenty of financial ammunition with which to work in their remaining free-agent pursuits.

Those pursuits, of course, included Alex Bregman. Now, the Cubs have stolen the Red Sox's man.

The Red Sox were known to have an aggressive offer out to Bregman, though in the immediate aftermath of the trade, it was revealed that they weren't willing to match the Cubs' number.

Red Sox embarrassed by Cubs flexing big-market muscles in Alex Bregman pursuit

It's fair to suggest that $35 million per year for a soon-to-be 32-year-old Bregman — who missed a large chunk of time in 2025 with a quad injury — is too much. It's also fair to recognize that, under the current regime, the Red Sox have reserved their big-money deals for in-house stars well under the age of 30.

But the Red Sox gave Bregman $40 million per year last winter. And they traded Rafael Devers to accomodate him. And they still haven't signed a major-league free agent this offseason.

Prior to signing Bregman, the Cubs had also sat out the big-money proceedings this offseason. All of their moves were of the low-risk variety, generally aimed at rebuilding their bullpen.

And then they pulled the trigger. They found the right guy to commit to — the same guy who immediately endeared himself to all Red Sox fans and players alike. They traded for Cabrera to save money on the pitching staff, and subsequently spent those savings on a superstar player in free agency.

Of course, this situation could still have a happy resolution for both sides. From Boston's perspective, that'll require a marquee signing of their own, likely in the form of Bo Bichette. Given that Bichette is reportedly asking for a $300 million contract, though, that'll be easier said than done.

With Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo and Willson Contreras in place, this offseason won't go down in the annals of history as a total failure. But, with Bregman leaving for (literally) greener pastures — and Breslow's former team, no less — it's hard not to lament how the Red Sox have failed to capitalize on their own aggressiveness on the trade market to this point.