Boston Secures Alex Bregman's Services for Three Years at a Cost of $120 Million
Alex Bregman, the last major free agent holdout, is making some major moves. He's bidding adieu to the Houston Astros, his home since his professional debut, and the position he's been synonymous with since joining the team. Bregman has struck a deal with the Boston Red Sox for a three-year contract, worth a reported $120 million, with an interesting twist – he'll be shifting to second base, a position he's seldom played in his nine-year career.
Remember the Chris Sale-Vaughn Grissom trade debacle of last year? Boston's gamble didn't pay off as Sale excelled with the Atlanta Braves while Grissom battled injuries, hitting a dismal .234 with no home runs and six RBIs in just 31 games. Bregman's right-handed power makes for a welcome addition to a lineup that leans heavily to the left side, enabling All-Star RF Rafael Devers to stay put at third base.
Bregman, with a .272 career batting average, has proven himself a consistent power hitter, striking at least 23 home runs in three consecutive years. He fractured the American League MVP runner-up title in 2019 with an impressive 41-home run performance and surpassed 100 RBIs twice. Drafted second overall by the Astros in the 2015 draft, Bregman debuted in the majors in 2016 and earned All-Star honors in 2017 and 2019.
Bregman will earn $40 million annually, though a portion of his earnings will be deferred. He rejected offers from the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, and Astros, who promised longer contract durations but at lower annual averages. The deferred payments in his contract are crucial, reducing the Red Sox's luxury tax burden.
Boston had offered Bregman six years for $156 million, Chicago four years for $120 million, and Detroit six years for $171.5 million. But Bregman held out, aiming for a minimum $200 million deal. Bregman's arrival strengthens the Red Sox as contenders in the highly competitive AL East. Boston's $210 million payroll, ranked ninth in MLB, will likely rise with the addition of other superstars like 2022 World Series hero Humberto Urbina.
The Red Sox bolstered their pitching staff with Garrett Crochet, Walter Buehler, and Aroldis Chapman, while enhancing their lineup with Bregman. The Bregman-Chapman duo, coupled with a full spring training, should energize Boston's offence.
Bregman once thrived with AJ Hinch in Houston. However, he's rejoining former bench coach Alex Cora in Boston, who led the Red Sox to a championship in 2018. The Red Sox-Astros rivalry is set to heat up when Bregman faces his former team next August.
Trevor Story, the Colorado Rockies' star shortstop, may find a new home in Houston if the Astros decide to move Alex Bregman to second base. Bregman's shift to second base might open up the possibility of Trevor Story filling the vacancy at third base in Houston, should the Astros opt for such a move.
In 2019, Bregman's performance was impressive, fracturing the American League MVP runner-up title with a 41-home run performance, en route to surpassing the 100 RBI mark for the second time in his career. This remarkable feat could potentially earn him comparison with renowned Boston Red Sox players, such as Rafael Devers, who has shown similar prowess at the plate.
Under Alex Cora's leadership, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2018. Bregman, now joining Cora in Boston, may bring a sense of deja vu, as both teams prepare to face each other in the upcoming season, potentially reigniting the Red Sox-Astros rivalry.
Despite turning down offers from the Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers, Bregman's contract with the Red Sox includes a deferred salary component, which will effectively reduce the team's luxury tax burden. With the Red Sox's payroll of $210 million already ranked ninth in Major League Baseball, such considerations are crucial in maintaining fiscal balance.
As a result of the trade debacle involving Chris Sale and Vaughn Grissom, the Red Sox undoubtedly hope for more favorable outcomes with Alex Bregman on board. The presence of players like Bregman, Aroldis Chapman, and Garrett Crochet will strengthen the pitching staff, while Walter Buehler and enhanced offence from Bregman will undoubtedly bolster Boston's lineup.
Bregman, who has earned All-Star honors in his career, will now have the responsibility of playing second base for the Red Sox. Once considered a baseman, Vaughn Grissom might be seen as a potential replacement for Bregman at third base for the Atlanta Braves, should the team decide to pursue such a transaction.
The $120 million contract signed by Bregman now makes him one of the highest-paid players in the Red Sox history, alongside the likes of Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, and David Price. With such a high-profile acquisition, the Red Sox hope to take a significant step towards regaining their previous glory in the highly competitive AL East Division.
