Despite their second half power struggle and early postseason elimination, the Boston Red Sox are taking their sweet time adding a bat to their roster this offseason.
A reunion with Alex Bregman has been tabbed as Boston's No. 1 priority after its many pitching additions, but new suitors have emerged in the race for his services, which has killed some of Red Sox Nation's optimism about a potential reunion. MLB insider Jeff Passan's December 18 update on his asking price hasn't helped Boston fans feel any better.
Passan began by recapping what Sox fans already knew — that Bregman again covets a long-term deal that would keep him with the same club for the rest of his career. Passan figures that Bregman sees that as a six-year commitment.
This is rough news for the Red Sox, who haven't committed six years to a free agent since Trevor Story signed before the 2022 season. Recently, an unnamed agent told multiple local sources that Boston doesn't "believe in long-term deals," in reference to players over the age of 30 (subscription required). This was one of the Red Sox's excuses for not offering Pete Alonso — 31 but an ideal fit as a right-handed bat and first baseman with lineup-altering pop — a serious deal.
Jeff Passan predicts Alex Bregman wants a six-year deal, which could kill any chance of a Red Sox reunion
Bregman is a year older than Alonso and he'll be 32 on Opening Day. If the Red Sox couldn't beat or match the five-year, $155 million contract he signed with the Orioles, it's hard to imagine they'd give Bregman anything close to what he wants. Alonso has posted full 162 game seasons in the last two years while Bregman spent around six weeks on the sidelines with a quad injury during his season with the Sox.
But if the Red Sox won't pay Bregman, they truly traded Rafael Devers for nothing. Boston coveted Bregman as a defensive upgrade at the hot corner, and none of the other third basemen available rival him in terms of defensive skill. The Red Sox could covet Bo Bichette or Ketel Marte as second basemen instead, but Marcelo Mayer doesn't offer nearly as much pop as Devers would. Alonso and Kyle Schwarber, the two top sluggers on this offseason's market, are now making more on their new deals than Devers will make with the Giants.
If the Red Sox want to compete in the American League East, which has already gotten much better this offseason with the Orioles' addition of Alonso and the Blue Jays' many moves, they need to get uncomfortable with their money. No free agent is going to settle for less than they think they're worth, and Boston's refusal to meet the market will only result in more disappointment.