The Boston Red Sox made a splash last offseason when they signed perennial all-star and World Series Champion Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, despite his immediate impact on the field and in the locker room this season, Bregman decided to opt-out of the final two years with Boston and instead test the open market once again.
The third-baseman has been tabbed to sign with the New York Mets by Matthew Pouliot of NBC Sports.Â
Bregman was looking for length on a contract last offseason but failed to find it, so he settled with the Red Sox with the opt-out clause. Now, he seems to be in a better spot to find length as there are more teams interested in him this offseason, which he can use as a bargaining chip to sign a long-term deal.
The Mets have two contracts that will likely be unloaded in Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, who both opted out of their contracts, leaving New York with money to burn on a player like Bregman.
He would be a defensive upgrade at third base and provide power in the middle of the order in the absence of Pete Alonso, who is likely to sign elsewhere.
Bregman to Mets Could Lead to Alonso to Red Sox
If Alex Bregman does sign a contract with the New York Mets, it could light a fire under Red Sox general manager Craig Breslow to make a retaliatory move and sign Alonso. Boston has shown penny-pinching instincts in recent years, albeit before last season when they signed Bregman, Garrett Crochet and a slew of youngsters to deals.
Signing Alonso makes all the sense in the world for Boston. First and foremost, it would prove to the fanbase that the days of trying the “moneyball” approach are over, and that the Red Sox are invested in spending money to win.
Secondly, Alonso fills a vital need for Boston, both in the lineup and in the field. Without Bregman and Rafael Devers who was traded last season, power hitting was a huge concern for the Red Sox last season, a role Alonso could fill to perfection, especially with the green monster on his side for 81 games a season.
In the field, the Red Sox have been betrayed at first base by Triston Casas’ injury problems for three years straight. Alonso could finally provide stability at the position for Boston, something they haven’t had at first base in a long, long time.
Bregman’s Market Value
According to Spotrac, Bregman’s value on the open market is four years at roughly $110 million. Pouliot, in his story for NBC Sports, predicts that Bregman will sign a six-year, $168 million contract with the Mets.
Bregman’s longest contract of his career came in Houston, where he signed a five-year, $100 million deal. His contract in Boston paid double that in AAV, but he only had that for one season after the opt-out.
Other teams expected to be in the market for Bregman are the Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers.
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