After their many pitching additions to address their greatest need, a right-handed bat has taken over as the Boston Red Sox's No. 1 offseason priority.
Alex Bregman is the best remaining option on the free agent market. He's posted historically excellent numbers at Fenway Park — .375/.490/.750, 1.240 OPS in 21 appearances — and his Gold Glove-caliber infield defense could kill two birds with one stone for Boston.
The connections between Bregman and the Red Sox have stalled in recent weeks, but they picked back up after the team signed Walker Buehler: not because Boston is any closer to signing him, but because the two players are friends and business partners.
Bregman and Buehler played together on Team USA in the past. They also co-own a racehorse. Buehler, a Lexington, KY native, purchased a share in March of Time, a now-three-year-old colt, and invited Bregman to buy a stake of his own. Bregman's family has a history in horse racing, so calling the third baseman was a no-brainer for Buehler.
New Red Sox Walker Buehler has multiple connections to free agent target Alex Bregman
"I have certainly made a pitch... he and I have been buddies for a long time."
— NESN (@NESN) January 3, 2025
Walker Buehler on recruiting Alex Bregman to the Sox 👀 🏇 pic.twitter.com/IAgFnptERz
The two players' partnership at the race track has recently paid off. March of Time won his first race at Santa Anita on Dec. 27. Buehler hopes he and Bregman can continue to work well together in Red Sox uniforms.
“I have certainly made a pitch all over the place for him to come to Boston,” Buehler said in a Jan. 3 online presser.
Buehler isn't Bregman's only connection to the Sox. Boston's skipper Alex Cora coached the third baseman during his time with the Astros organization in 2016-17. His outstanding offensive success at Fenway Park could also be a factor in the Sox's favor.
But if the front office won't pay up, Bregman's many connections won't matter. The veteran hopes for a deal in the $200 million range, and the Red Sox haven't shown a willingness to pay any free agent that kind of money. Maybe Buehler and Cora will be able to convince the front office to change its ways for a proven winner and leader.