It was an expected bit of news, something that was discussed for most of the summer in and around Boston, and now it is official: Red Sox star Alex Bregman is no longer under contract with the team. He is exercising his right to opt out of the final two years of the three-year, $120 million contract he signed late last winter to join the Red Sox.
Bregman missed more than a month with a right quad strain, but despite that, he still put up good numbers for Boston: a .273 batting average with 18 home runs, a .360 on-base percentage and a .462 slugging mark. He played excellent defense at third base–so good, in fact, that the Red Sox moved slugger Rafael Devers to designated hitter and traded him during the year after he sulked over the move.
With Devers gone, there will be pressure on the Red Sox to pay to keep Bregman. It would make for bad optics if Boston loses the All-Star player who helped nudge their other All-Star, Devers, out of town.
Alex Bregman Loved Time With the Red Sox
The New York Post first reported Bregman’s exercising of his option, though it was clear once Bregman got off to a good start with the Red Sox that he would do so.
Bregman spoke highly of his time in Boston, and he appeared to relish the role of veteran leader, especially as the Red Sox brought up top young prospects like Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony.
Though there was interest in locking down a new deal during the season, that’s not typically how Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, operates. But Boras did indicate Bregman’s desire to stay once free agency hit.
Boras told WEEI in Boston earlier this year, “Obviously, I think he’s very open about it. He has enjoyed it there. The team has more defined promise than it did a year ago. With free agency, you have to see how things go.”
GettyRed Sox 3B Alex Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras
Scott Boras: Boston Needs ‘Championship Leadership’
The Red Sox should be in a position to keep him. Not only did the team save about $250 million in salary in dealing away Devers, they signed Campbell and Anthony to relatively inexpensive deals, joining Ceddanne Rafaela and Brayan Bello in that camp.
That, Boras said, should make them willing to pay his client.
“They’ve got a couple of great players at very discounted prices by signing them young in their careers,” Boras said. “… Plus there are other young players coming. They all need championship leadership. When you go back and look at what makes teams successful you go find players who are quality enough at the All-Star level but also have championship leadership and experience which benefits the growth of so many young players.
“I would certainly think the foundation of the Red Sox is in a much more defined position than it was a year ago.”
Red Sox Eager to Keep Alex Bregman
After the Red Sox were eliminated from the playoffs by the Yankees early this month, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow met with the media and made clear the team’s desire to bring back Bregman.
“Obviously, Alex has the right, as structured in his contract, to opt out. He’s going to do what’s best for his family.
“At the same time, I will not miss an opportunity to talk about his contributions on the field, in the clubhouse, to the coaching staff, to the front office, in every conversation we’ve had, I learned something. His influence and impact has rubbed off on his teammates and by all accounts, he has loved his time in Boston as well.”
His time in Boston, at least on the contract he signed in February, is done. It’s up to the Red Sox to pony up for him now.
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