The Red Sox remain in the mix for Alex Bregman, but they’ll need to step up their pursuit if they want to land the former Astros third baseman. Boston’s currently considered co-favorites alongside the Detroit Tigers to sign the two-time All-Star, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Bregman’s coming off a solid 2023 campaign where he hit .260/.768 OPS with 26 homers and 75 RBIs in 145 games. That kind of production, plus his reliable glove at third, would give Boston’s lineup the right-handed boost it’s been looking for.
Here’s the catch – the Sox haven’t put their best foot forward yet. Their current offer to Bregman sits below what Houston’s put on the table to keep their longtime third baseman. While Boston’s made some nice moves this offseason through trades and free agency, they’re still a few pieces away from looking like a real playoff contender.
The fit makes sense on paper. The Red Sox need both infield defense and right-handed power, and Bregman brings both. But their seemingly lukewarm pursuit so far suggests they might not be as serious about landing him as the rumors indicate.
At this point, unless there’s a dramatic shift in Boston’s approach, Bregman’s more likely to end up elsewhere. The Red Sox have shown they’re willing to spend this winter – they just haven’t shown they’re ready to make the kind of offer that would pull Bregman away from Houston or fend off Detroit.
