This was always going to the Red Sox’ biggest test.
Were they willing to truly get uncomfortable? Were they actually going to be more decisive? Would the Red Sox finally see the opportunity that sat in front them and push not be seduced by “sustainability”?
With Alex Bregman agreeing to a three-year deal with the Red Sox worth a whopping $120 million, the Red Sox finally got it.
For the first time in a long time, the Red Sox passed a very important examination.
Ever since the Sox pivoted away from Juan Soto and toward Bregman, the partnership made more sense than any free target in recent memory. He played a position (second base) that needed to be solidified, particularly defensively. There was a desire for a middle of the order right-handed bat. By all accounts, the minute Bregman walks into the Sox’ clubhouse the team uncovers a powerful veteran voice. And if there is a need to implement one of the younger infielders at second in the coming years, moving Bregman to third while altering Rafael Devers’ infield existence isn’t a bad thing.
And then there is what it all does to the perception of a team that its fan base had expertly rolled its collective eyes at for far too long.
With this one signing – more than any since the Dombrowski Era – the Red Sox have altered the narrative. They are now finally back in the Big Boys Club.
For months upon months it didn’t appear that the Red Sox were ready for such a step forward. Sure, they had dabbled in the free agent conversations with some big names (Soto, Max Fried), but the almost-but-not-quite result wasn’t going anywhere. And that’s certainly, at times, how it looked it would land when it came to the pursuit of Bregman.
The Red Sox never wanted to commit the six years Bregman reportedly turned down with the Astros. They only wanted to get him at their price, at least when it came to length of contract. That’s why with reports coming out that Houston was back in, the Tigers’ continued infatuation (they reportedly offered six years, $175.5 million), and the Cubs sudden interest, the Red Sox finally getting this win seemed dicey.
But in the last few weeks word was starting to trickle out regarding what this Bregman landscape truly looked like.
The Red Sox – a team carrying the label of one which wasn’t willing to stretch financially – was willing to pay Bregman his money … just not his years. The belief was such an approach might just work since Boston was perceived as a more desirable landing spot for the right-handed-hitting infielder than Detroit.
Turns out, it did work.
Yes, Bregman can opt-out of either of his first two years with the Red Sox, but that is a dynamic that benefits both parties. The Sox always knew they had backup plans, whether it be with the likes of Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, David Hamilton, Vaughn Grissom and Ceddanne Rafaela, or a trade for Nolan Arenado. Many of those options will still be around if Bregman decides to move on.
The guess is that with Bregman making $40 million a year for the next three years, he probably won’t be going anywhere. And with that dynamic in play, the Red Sox are immediately a World Series contender. That wasn’t necessarily an easy thing to utter prior to Wednesday night.
The Red Sox finally paid the price, and what they bought should be well worth it.
