2:19 p.m.: Cotillo reports that Boston’s offer to Bregman was five years and $165MM with significant deferrals.
2:09pm: Alex Bregman is headed to Chicago after coming to terms with the Cubs on a five-year, $175MM contract that was first reported last night. That’s a blow to the Red Sox, who were long reported to be prioritizing a reunion with Bregman after opting out of the final two years and $80MM of his contract with the team in November. After Bregman’s departure, reports from Boston shed light on the efforts made by the Red Sox to keep their All-Star, and when that offer ended up being unsuccessful.
According to The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham last night, the Red Sox “It wasn’t close financially and wasn’t willing to give Bregman a full no-trade clause, which the Cubs did.” Today, reporting from Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive confirmed that the Red Sox were not willing to give Bregman a no-trade clause and added that the team cited “organizational policy” regarding no-trade protections in doing so. That, McAdam writes, “has been a sticking point” for Bregman, who has young children and values stability in them as he enters his third straight year in a new city.
Regarding finances, McAdam writes that the five-year offer from Boston was “reasonable competition,” but he added that it failed to provide Chicago financially. Like the Cubs’ offer, which includes $70MM in deferred fees, the Red Sox’s offer also includes significant deferrals. Those deferred payments were structured differently, however, as McAdam noted that the Red Sox proposed a payment plan. “spanning decades.” The exact payment details of Chicago’s offer are unknown at this time, McAdam notes that the decades-long payment structure offered by Boston widened the gap between the two offers and reduced the value of the Red Sox’ offer above the already low sticker price, relative to the Cubs’ offer.
Exactly how these two offers will be easier to judge when more information comes out about the details of Bregman’s contract in Chicago, but in any case it seems that the offer that the Red Sox are reportedly considering. “angry” he came up short of what Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and his front office were able to muster. Because of this, the Red Sox will have to look elsewhere when looking for another bat in the middle of the order for their infield. Bob Nightengale of USA Today was among the reports to suggest after Bregman’s signing that the other top player on the market, shortstop. Bo Bichetteit can be a player they revolve around. Bichette figures to sign even more than Bregman, though; MLBTR predicted an eight-year, $208MM contract for the infielder at the start of the offseason.
Some of that, of course, has to do with the length of the contract. Perhaps Bichette’s eight-year deal, which will end his age-35 season, would be more attractive to the Red Sox than signing Bregman in his age-36 season to a five-year deal. On the other hand, it’s important to note that the Red Sox front office has yet to offer a contract longer than three years in free agency. If the team has a general aversion to long-term deals, it would be difficult for the Red Sox to outbid Bichette’s rivals such as the Phillies and Yankees who have no qualms about signing free agents to long contracts.
If the Red Sox aren’t willing to release Bichette, Bregman’s replacement options become very slim. Eugenio Suarez offers great potential and could be worth a short-term deal in free agency, but he struggled in the second half last year, will play this year at age 34, and is a flashy cornerback at the hot corner. Turning to the trade market, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reported that just before the new year the Red Sox narrowed their focus to five infield options: Bregman, Bichette, Ketel Marte, Isaac Paredesagain Brendan Donovan. With Bregman now in Chicago and Marte officially off the market by Arizona, that leaves Paredes and Donovan as the two primary options for Bichette in that report.
Of the two, Paredes seems to be the better fit. Both are under control for two seasons after this one, but Paredes is a right-handed hitter who appears to be less expensive in a trade than Donovan. While Paredes was removed from the Astros starting lineup with the addition of Carlos Correa In the summer, Donovan’s market is known to have many suitors including the Giants, Mariners, and Royals. In addition, Paredes is a right-handed hitter who plays third base, making him a cleaner replacement for Bregman than Donovan, a left-handed hitter who has played all but second base. Paredes is also the best hitter over the last four seasons (124 wRC+ vs 119) coming off a strong breakout season (128 wRC+ vs 119). Paredes (hamstring injury) and Donovan (sports hernia surgery) both ended their seasons with injury issues but are expected to be ready for Spring Training next month.
Of course, the club may be looking at other options as their preferred targets have started to dwindle. The Cubs, themselves, now have plenty of in-house talent after bringing in the fired Bregman Matt Shaw on third base. Adding another unproven youngster to the Red Sox’ very thin roster probably won’t be particularly appealing, but the Cubs’ second baseman is. Nico Hoerner received trade interest this winter and could be more available now that Bregman has released Shaw to take over as the cornerstone following the speculated Hoerner trade. An elite defender at second base and who has posted strong marks at shortstop in the past, Hoerner is a highly regarded clubhouse prospect who could help fill the leadership void created by the loss of Bregman.
With that said, his wRC+ of 109 last year was a career high, and his lack of power is unlikely to be particularly appealing to a team like the Red Sox who finished among the pack in homers last year and have expressed interest in bringing in a big-time slugger like. Kyle Schwarber or Pete Alonso earlier this winter in hopes of improving that area of the offense. It’s also an open question as to whether the Cubs would want to deal Hoerner, as with Bregman, Hoerner, Dansby Swanson again Michael Busch will be among the strongest in baseball entering 2026. In addition, Hoerner is expected to hit free agency following the 2026 campaign and the Red Sox may opt to add a player under long-term control for fear of finding themselves in this predicament again next year.
