The Red Sox are reportedly in agreement with Alex Bregman on a three-year, $120MM deal. The Boras Corporation client receives massive $40MM salaries in each season, though an unreported amount of that money is deferred. Bregman can opt out after each of the first two seasons. The team has yet to officially announce the signing.
Boston gets the best remaining free agent by offering a massive annual sum. Bregman reportedly had a standing six-year offer valued at $156MM from the Astros for most of the offseason. The Tigers reportedly put forth a six-year, $171.5MM proposal, while the Cubs offered a $120MM guarantee over a four-year term. As of last month, Bregman remained committed to a long-term deal. The Sox’s willingness to offer one of the biggest AAVs in league history changed the calculus.
It marks the end of an illustrious tenure in Houston. The second overall pick in the 2015 draft, Bregman was in the majors within a year of coming out of LSU. He immediately locked down third base. He hit .284/.352/.475 over his first full big league campaign, helping the Astros to their first World Series title in 2017. He was one of the top handful of players in baseball over the next two seasons. Bregman secured consecutive top five finishes in AL MVP balloting while combining for a .291/.409/.561 slash with more walks than strikeouts between 2018-19.
Bregman, 31 in March, successively hit 31 and 41 home runs over that stretch. His power production has ticked down since the ’19 campaign, which was the most homer-heavy season in league history. Bregman has hit between 23 and 26 homers in each of the past three seasons. He’d continued to post excellent on-base numbers up through 2023, though his OBP dropped last year as his walks plummeted.
The two-time All-Star hit .260/.315/.453 across 634 trips to the plate in 2024. He had by far his lowest on-base percentage since his half-season as a rookie nearly a decade ago. That was almost entirely because of a drop in free passes. Bregman walked in 6.9% of his plate appearances, nearly halving his typical 12-13% rates. He remained incredibly difficult to punch out (13.6% strikeout rate) and narrowly established a new career high with a 40.1% hard contact percentage.
Bregman started the season very slowly. He hit .216/.283/.294 with only one home run through the end of April. While his power started to rebound in May, he reached base at a meager .276 clip that month. He entered June with a .219/.280/.372 slash line that was beginning to raise questions about his earning power. He put those to rest with a fantastic finish to the season. Bregman hit .284/.337/.500 with 20 doubles and 19 home runs across his final 398 plate appearances. While the walks remained down, he managed much better batted ball results in the second half.
Over eight-plus seasons with the Astros, Bregman hit .272/.366/.483 with 191 home runs. FanGraphs and Baseball Reference each valued his Houston tenure around 40 wins above replacement. He won a Silver Slugger and was MVP runner-up in 2019 and won his first career Gold Glove last season. He has been an instrumental piece of Houston’s sustained postseason success and World Series wins in 2017 and ’23. His swing is perfectly suited for the short left field at Houston’s home park. Bregman certainly hasn’t been a product of the Crawford Boxes, though. He has been essentially the same hitter on the road (.275/.362/.489) and at home (.270/.369/.476).
Bregman will have a similar home setup with the Green Monster at Fenway. He’ll reunite with Sox manager Alex Cora, who was Houston’s bench coach in 2017. While the Sox’s front office had trepidation about adding another long-term infield commitment alongside Rafael Devers and Trevor Story, they were willing to pay handsomely in the short term.
Boston had roughly $210MM in luxury tax commitments going into this evening, as calculated by RosterResource. A $40MM average annual value for Bregman would push that close to $250MM. The actual AAV won’t be quite so high, as the deferrals will drop the net present value to an extent. It’s likely that the Sox will still end up beyond the $241MM luxury tax threshold. They didn’t pay the CBT last season, so they’d only owe a 20% tax on spending between $241MM and $261MM. Even a true $40MM AAV for Bregman would only come with a $1.8MM tax hit for the Sox.
It’s the culmination of an exciting offseason for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and his staff. The Sox opened the winter looking to add upside in their rotation. They eschewed long-term pitching investments, instead acquiring Garrett Crochet for four prospects while bringing in Walker Buehler on a one-year, $21.05MM deal. Boston signed Patrick Sandoval to a two-year contract midway through his rehab from Tommy John surgery and made a pair of one-year pickups in the bullpen (Aroldis Chapman, Justin Wilson).
Adding a right-handed bat was the one offseason goal that the Sox had not accomplished. While an outfielder may have been a cleaner roster fit, Bregman’s willingness to move off his longtime position makes this workable. The Sox intend to play him at second base, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. That made him a better fit than Nolan Arenado, who has been connected to the Sox in trade rumors for much of the winter.
Devers has been vocal about preferring to stick at third base. Bregman is a superior defender at the hot corner, but he should be athletic enough to move to the keystone for at least one season. He’d likely have spent most of his career in the middle infield had he not broken in with a team that had a Jose Altuve/Carlos Correa pairing.
That blocks the path to playing time for top prospect Kristian Campbell in the short term. The 22-year-old had a monster minor league season (.330/.439/.558 between three levels) to put himself in consideration for the second base job. Campbell seems likelier to begin the year in Triple-A Worcester now. He has played both middle infield positions and all three outfield spots in the minors, though, so the Sox should be able to find playing time for him somewhere as injuries arise throughout the year.
Campbell’s presence is probably a big reason the Red Sox kept this to a short-term commitment. Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe reports that Boston wasn’t interested in going past three guaranteed years. The tradeoff involves one of the largest per-year commitments in MLB history. The pre-deferral $40MM AAV is tied for the sixth-largest ever. It’s the second-biggest of this winter behind Juan Soto’s $51MM AAV and ties the Aaron Judge deal for third in history among position players (trailing Shohei Ohtani and Soto).
Bregman was the final unsigned free agent who had declined a qualifying offer. Boston surrenders their second-round pick (54th overall) in the upcoming draft, as well as $500K from their international signing bonus pool in 2026. They’re getting a compensatory pick about 20 spots later with Nick Pivetta signing with San Diego, so the draft capital comes out relatively close to a wash. As luxury tax payors, the Astros get the lowest compensation pick for Bregman’s departure — a selection after the fourth round, which lands around 137th overall.
Chandler Rome of The Athletic first reported that Bregman was signing with the Red Sox on a three-year, $120MM deal. Jon Heyman of The New York Post had the presence of deferrals. Ari Alexander of Houston’s KPRC-2 had the even salary structure. Image courtesy of Imagn.
Wow
Yankees Red Sox, just like old times. O’s knocked down?
I don’t like that many opt outs
Bregman is a good player. But he’s not opting out of $40m per year unless this is front loaded.
Agree, one-sided
Hahaha deferrals guess everyone does it
This sounds similar to what Boras and alonso proposed to Mets. High AAV. 3 years. Opt outs after each year. Mets held their ground. Bergman probably had more than 1 team interested.
Fenway
Better than six years, if he opts out after one year than it means he did pretty well
Red Sox hope he opts out after one year. That means he was productive and they can avoid the heavy payments.
For Bregman, he goes to a park that will inflate his production.
They haven’t posted the deferral amount yet but I imagine it will bring the aav down to about $30m. He’s said he’s not willing to take a pay cut
Fenway- yes you do, and you hope he’ll put up a great season and then exercise that opt out.
To get the AAV down to $30 million, he would have to defer around $35-36 million per year of the $40 million and defer it for 10 years.
Web, if that’s true my idea was way off
That’s an expensive aging second baseman.
I would like to see all players take deferral so when they live their lavish lifestyle they will have money coming when they stop playing.
But your comment,yes every team does it or should do it.It is a tool that should be used.The Pirates could push money to the future when they get an owner that spends.
They had a horrible offseason. They’re really going to need their kids to step up even more.
Perfect. Now Cease, Suarez, and Cronenworth for Casas, Crawford, and Yoshida. Full throttle Sox!
Dear God please no.
Ron Darling….
That trade sounds horrible for SD.
SD would lose a great starter, their starting 2b, and a great closer.
And get a 1b we don’t need, an above average corner OFer, we don’t need, and the SP who led the AL in losses last year and is OK. If SD made that trade, I guess Arraez is the starting 2b, which is not a great idea, and SD has Merril, Tatis, Heyward, Joe, and Yoshida in the OF.
Please THINK!!!
It’s not that bad for the Padres. They’d get rid of the Cronenworth contract. Casas is a talented young hitter with power. Crawford is a decent rotation piece. And nobody judges pitchers off of their win/loss records nowadays. That’s just silly.
Absolutely Oreos have not improved much at all they overpaid for Tyler O’Neal which is there only big signing and Morton is almost 50 lol Oreos third plac at best
Yup
Horace — More like Os and Sox.
In that order 😉
O’s knocked up. While NY BOS lose draft picks and take on salary Balt gains draft picks and has financial room that they don’t seem like they will use but that’s on them. Could really reload the farm system next draft.
The Red Sox lose a draft pick for Bregman, but gain one for Pivetta.
It would be the greatest thing ever if the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Phillies win their division. One of O’s or Jays win the first WC and Boston and both New York teams miss the playoffs.
Thank God it wasn’t the Cubs.
I second that. Sheesh…he also just burned the bridge with nearly every MLB fan, including those in New England.
Good luck Boston. You just lost that deal.
Idiots didn’t learn their lesson with Story.
$40 million AAV. $40 million AAV. $40 million AAV.
Where are all the people that were saying $26 million AAV was too much?
AND he gets an opt out after a single season. He goes in to Fenway which is a park built for his game, gets paid $40 million, and if he has another season as good or better goes right back into the FA market.
Bregman just hit a HUGE HR.
Cool
That makes me want to throw up. I can’t believe that piece of crap is who they finally decide to spend money on
Meh. I didn’t like him, but of all the Astros cheaters he’s the lesser of the evils. I’m sure we’ll grow to like him. Cora on the other hand…
Not Altuve, the guy who didn’t actually cheat?
yes because Altuve had a horrible tattoo and not a buzzer under his jersey
Why would literally every player on that 2017 team spend time admitting to being involved in the scandal, meanwhile defending Altuve and TONY KEMP (of all people) if they’re not telling the truth?
Look, I dislike Altuve as much as the next guy–I’m a Mariners fan and he’s screwed us consistently for 10 years–but this conspiracy theory is just goofy at this point.
Altuve got the MVP because the people in front of and behind him cheated, whether he did or not. If he publicly says that Judge should have gotten the MVP and he sends him the trophy and the extra money, then I’ll respect him.
Point taken, but still, how is that worse than actually cheating? I have much more respect for Altuve, the guy who said he didn’t want to take part in it, than the guys who actually cheated and/or tried to convince us it was no big deal (Bregman, Springer, Reddick, Verlander).
I’m not saying you have to respect or like Altuve (I don’t like him, but I do respect him), but I don’t understand how Bregman is the lesser of evils when he was one of the most egregious perpetrators.
We don’t know if Altuve told the truth. They could have been protecting his MVP and his HOF candidacy. We don’t know.
I’m not comparing him to the other cheaters, or Bregman to the other cheaters. Altuve was and is a leader on the team. It’s disappointing that he wasn’t able to get them to stop.
Beltran was the ringleader and the more vocal leader. Two guys against 23 guys doesn’t seem fair. And I’m not sure why they would protect Altuve’s legacy but not Bregman’s, Springer’s, or Beltran’s (who seemingly will get into the Hall, regardless).
And my comment was in response to the comment above that stated Bregman is the lesser of the evils, so that’s my point in defending Altuve here. I’m not suggesting Altuve should be immune to criticism.
Points taken, but Beltran was a newbie to the team and wasn’t even any good. It’s a pretty weak team that follows an over-the-hill cheater.
If Beltran gets into the hall. He should hold the door for Pete Rose. Roger Clemons and all the others excluded for cheating
I understand that viewpoint and agree that the whole thing was BS, but Beltran had the respect of 30 teams around the league. He may have been (for some reason) the most respected player in the game at that point. The guy was hired as a manager like two seconds after he retired.
I can see why a fairly young team followed his lead when a guy like Verlander was essentially looking up to him even.
There’s no conspiracy theory lol.
The Astros admitted to changing their method from banging trash can’s and theraguns in the middle of 2018. They have not disclosed what the new method of informing players was.
The commissioner stated that the Astros also used clapping, whistling, and yelling to indicate pitches.
But every single AB from 2017 has been listened to, reviewed, and logged. signstealingscandal.com/
Yet none of the 8800 ABs could clapping, whistling, or yelling be heard. But 1100 of them the trash can was heard.
The Astros ADMITTED to cheating the ENTIRE year. I’m sorry you can’t do math, but it’s obvious that in 2017, there was another method being used, and it wasn’t something that could be audibly identified. We know the Astros WERE using electronics that they weren’t allowed to.
And we know that Altuve grabbed his shirt when he crossing home and that’s not a reaction anyone would have in that situation. “Oh no, my tattoo” is the only conspiracy theory here.
That and the Astros claiming they stopped in 2018 because knowing what pitch was coming was no longer effective. Anyone that has every played baseball at any level knows unequivocally that knowing what pitch is coming, as opposed to not knowing what pitching is coming, is always going to be effective and helpful for the batter.
Anyone that would say something as foolish and ignorant as you just did needs to get off the MSM teet and learn how to think for themselves again. Or just think again. BC to call that a conspiracy theory is just willfully ignoring all the facts of the case. Altuve was protected because he was the Astros clubhouse leader, a lifer who signed with them when he was 16, and he was already an Astros legend and one of their best players in their history in 2017. As a youngster in that clubhouse – and everyone had less tenure than him at that point – you don’t snitch on Mr. Astro, the face of the franchise. Everyone knows that, Scooby.
BULL, account!
Oh please!
We’ll never know all the details.
But we do know Jake Marisnick was also somehow heavily involved. He only had 259 PA in 2017 but somehow had the most tips, or the most trash can bangs, or whatever you want to call it, on the whole team.
He didn’t get as much media time because, well, he’s Jake Marisnick, but there is something there where he needs to be mentioned when discussing the worst offenders. If anything else, he was the most frequent offender, and that alone based on his playing time, is super suspect.
So to sum all of that up you have no idea whatsoever, you are completely speculating.
@bhambrave Do you really think the MVP was decided on runs and RBI? Maybe 20-30 years ago, but I doubt that was the deciding factor when Altuve won.
He’s the one that thoroughly denied any wrong doing denim had a half-ace’d apology about.
If I’m remembering correctly, there’s even footage of Altuve openly berating the trash can man for doing it during his AB.
He still knew about it and didn’t tell anyone. Guilty by association. The entire franchise fr the owner right down to the the ball boys knew about.
You guys are really still hung up on this Astros cheating thing? Let it go, man. The rest of the world has moved on already.
wow
Well I guess bregman finally blinked
He got $40m/yr, how is that blinking? Sox got fleeced.
Yeah the only way the Sox won is that devers is going to be full time ripoff papi DH unless they trade casas
Bregman could do with doubles off the green monster but he isn’t going to get the power numbers from the Crawford boxes back
40 mil a year feels like an overpay that’s 900 ops money not high 700s
He’s not coming off third
Unless that $ is deferred until next century it’s an incredible deal for Bregman. 120 for 3 years vs 160 for 6. Not crazy to think he could make 40 million in 3 years and if he doesn’t it doesn’t matter because the investment opportunities the next 3 years should make that. Awful terrible horrible contract for Boston
Wish I could take back that best offseason in the AL East vote.
@WadeBoggsWildRideCancel You should change your name to wade Wilson with that sense of humor.
Big overpay.
Fleeced? He wanted 6 years and got 3. If he has a good season, he opts out which is fine because Mayer and Campbell will be ready. Sox did great here.
you think Bregman is going to opt out at $40mil/year?
“You think Bregman is going to opt out”….If he plays well, yes I do. Only top tier players typically get opt outs and if Boras/Bregman wanted(and fought for) an opt out in the deal, there’s a reason for that.
Typically, players(and agents)only fight for the things most important to them. Plus the mercurial, ego driven Scott Boras never met an opt out he couldn’t love and exercise.
If Breggie plays one year in Boston and does well, he can then go chase the same contract numbers the Astros offered him which still might be attainable.
They wanted a short term. They are way under the luxury tax, so the money didn’t matter that much. Boston got what they wanted. He was insisting on a long term and didn’t get it
Look at it this way:
if you were the RedSox would you rather have three years at $120
Or a six year deal paying $40 a year for the first three years and $17 a year for the last three years
(all numbers in millions)
The optouts are ok if they already have a prospect available for next year.
They sox do have a prospect available for next year
Its not getting fleeced if you have the money and want the player.
Yea they did, 40m AV with opt outs every year for a second tier free agent is one of the most desperate contracts in recent memory.
It’s the 6th highest AAV in MLB history…
“6th highest AAV”.. So Boras can(and will) claim “victory” even when other teams offered Bregman WAY more total dollars.
I mean, he’s making $120M over 3 years. Why would you want to tie up 3 more years (when he’ll only be 33) for $36M extra. There’s a great chance he’ll beat 3/$36M when he hits free agency next.
right but it’s for 3 years. Let Boras and Bregman celebrate that hollow victory.
Blinked? Do you have a different definition of that? This sounds like a huge overpay. I’d obviously like my team to do something, especially since Giants have basically done nothing since Adames, but I don’t know if I’d be excited about Bregman…..even if it’s just one year for 40 million
Thank you Boston for saving the Astros from themselves. 170m over 6 was not going to age well. Paredes and Cam Smith will get their time at 3B and will do fine. Boston now has 3 3B. I look forward to the headlines written when Bregman hits his first “breggy bomb” at Fenway in June
He pretty consistent, that’s huge money
Whoa! This is indeed full throttle after all. Man this offseason plus the loaded farm system? Look out for Boston.
Another Boras failure.
He got a $40M AAV lmao. Some of you will say anything.
Or $120M guaranteed. Lol.
Yeah, $120M guaranteed and a chance at one more solid payday after his age 33 season. He was worth 4.1 WAR this past season and while he is declining, I don’t think he’s doing so nearly as rapidly as some are making it seem.
Given his glove and bat to ball skills, I could definitely see him getting another 3 year deal next time around in free agency (albeit at a much lower AAV).
“$40M AAV”…Last time I checked $40M aav is not more(or as much) than the $156M+ offered by the Houston Astros. So now, Bregman has to move his family and go from a no-tax state to a HEAVILY taxed state. And for LESS total money(and deferrals)no less.
It doesn’t need to be. If he believes in himself at age 33 and beats 3/$36M, then he made the right decision. There’s no disputing that.
that’s not certain. What is certain is that he had an offer for 30 million more than he turned down. you can keep trying to spin it however you want but 120 is less than 156.
“At age 33..and beats 3/36M”..So you’re saying it’ll be YEARS before Bregman knows if he did the right thing financially.
@mlb fan I’m sure Bregman will regret not hiring you to be his life and career coach because who else is there to help guide him and decide what’s best for him and his family besides you.
Yes. Why is that a negative? People crapped on Boras and Snell for Snell’s 2 year deal, then he opted out and beat that initial “best offer” 12 months later and by A LOT, like $40M total. Chapman took less then signed a pretty monster extension based on his tier. Guys take less then ended up coming out ahead All the time these days. It’s part of the game now that less years, higher AAVs with opt outs have taken the league by storm.
And you can keep repeating that all you want. Yes, $156M being more than $120M is a fact, but it lacks nuance. Why tie himself up for 3 more years over $36M when he can re-enter free agency just outside his prime when his carrying card is his bat to ball ability and glove, two skills that don’t rapidly decline with age for those who are successful at it?
If all he looked at is pure numbers without context or considering how to put himself in position for a better next contract, he wouldn’t be maximizing his earning potential. He’s probably still at least a 2 WAR player with those skills in 2027. If a team thinks he can be that from 2028-2030, he’ll beat $36M. Think a little more critically here instead of just focusing on the larger number.
Boo hoo, I’m shedding a tear for his troubles…
@myaccount2 Binary-thinking folks who don’t understand opportunity cost won’t get what you’ve commented.
Lol. Poor thing, 40 per. How will he ever get by?
Absolutely, BleacherCreature. It’s so odd.
@YankeesBleacherCreature..”regret not hiring you”….Said the guy who’s so soft and delicate that he’s afraid to let others reply to him.
You’re like the little spoiled rich kid, hurling insults at others, while standing behind an iron gate and being protected by his father’s security detail.
@mlb fan Here’s a guy in his prime years who has $100M in career earnings and yet you question his career and life choices? Relocation and paying higher taxes isn’t as big of a challenge for someone like him as you may think.
You’re comparing AAV to total value. By that standard Sean Manaea is making more than Shohei Ohtani.
@C Us Sink, I can’t help but shed a tear to C the Mariners sinking…
I wish I could fail like that. 40m AAV
“Wish I could fail like that”..No. My advice to you, is just keep on failing the way you normally do. Not all changes are good changes you know.
In what way are you saying failing into 40 million is not a good change?
Trade Casas to the Mariners !!!!
Gonna hurt some, Iggy… which young arm are you prepared to lose?
A young Ms arm for Casas.. lol. Did you see how much these 30 year old pitchers were going AAV? SP >>>>> 1B in value.
OK Brettlez, let’s hear your opening salvo in your attempt to pry Casas away. The floor is yours.
Mariners won’t trade for him, rather would just play Raley, Garver, Solano at first. Red sox treat him like he’s not a 1.5-2 war 1B.
Well, you’re probably not wrong, but the subject was trading for Casas and now we all have blue baseballs. Thanks for nothing lol
Casas isn’t worth Luis Castillo much less one of the young arms. If they offered Casas for Emerson Hancock and Harry Ford that would be a fair deal for both sides. Casas had one above average year, not very good defensively, and appears susceptible to soft tissue injuries.
The subject is a joke, Sox treat him like he’s a stud. Won’t go anywhere unless some terrible franchise wants to give a #3 SP for a mediocre 1B/DH
Aloha Gwynning! I’m so happy my Cubs didn’t sign him! Nothing against BSox, I just want to say Arigatou Gozaimasu to them for signing him away from Jed! Because so often as a Cub fan, young talent is traded away, blocked, etc. There are no guarantees that Shaw makes it right away but at least now he gets an opportunity to make his case.
BTW unique move your Padres made in their signing today. Guess they want more arms in the rotation to be on the safe side. Take care bradduh! Mahalo!
Are you insane!!!
Devers is better at DH instead of 1st
If anything trade yoshida and a prospect away
I was referring to trading Casas
You guys can have your 1 war 1B/ DH
They tried lol
40 million a year is a haul. Looks like holding out worked in his favor. I’m just glad he isn’t on the Astro’s anymore. They lost Tucker and Bregman this off-season
This was purely about years for Boston. I don’t think they ever cared about the dollars as much. Interesting play.
Not if his numbers continue dropping and then he will basically end up making the same amount he would have made with the Astros original offer.
3/$36M would match it. All he has to do is be forecasted to be around a 1.7 WAR player a year come the 2027 offseason. He’s coming off a 4.1 WAR, age 30 season, so will he slow down that much by the time his age 33 season concludes? I guess we’ll see.
Nope–he will make more with Boston. Astros didn’t bite on 40 a year. Their first offer was 156 over 6 (26 per year). I think they upped to about 160 or so the second time around, but not sure about it. Contract with Boston has an opt out after the each season….I can’t see him doing any better than 40 million a year unless he MVP’s 2 of the 3 years, which I’m betting he won’t come close to.
I think he means when his next 3 years of contracts are added to these 3 years.
156 million is still more than 120 million so he isn’t making more money in Boston
I’m pretty sure you know what he means, considering 6 years and 3 years are different. He could re-sign or extend his contract. We won’t know until the 2027 offseason, but you cannot definitively say he won’t at this point.
you can’t definitely say he will make more. look what happened with Berlinger.
You can’t definitively say either way, of course, but 3/$36M is easily attainable in the current times and inflation isn’t going to magically stop anytime soon.
I’d rather paid him another 40m and had him for twice as long. I wouldn’t have been interested in him period. I would stop being a fan of my team if they handed out this contract. If they do something this stupid what’s next? Signing Story? Trading away the cy young winner for a average 2b?
I am pretty glad he is not coming back to the Astros too.
Thought the Astros offered more?
I think he felt slighted, but this potentially sets him up for more if he kills the monster.
Yeah if AJ Preller is still gm somewhere he doesn’t realize the monster inflates #’s and will give Bregman 300 million. Or Maybe Arte Angels will be impressed.
@ironballs. Yeah I remember seeing 154, but they must’ve pulled it. They were talking about shredding payroll all year. I guess they got walker instead.
And paredes to handle third which means altuve doesn’t have to move to the outfield after all. I don’t think the Astros are losing any sleep!
Worked out perfect for Astros. Casual fans see we offered him more $
That’s the Joke. They didn’t pull it. 120 > 154 156 whatever it was since it’s half the time. Unless a ton of $ is deferred a long time out. He’s probably not planning on retiring at 33 so still time to make the 156
Astros offered more, but for 6 years. AAV on that was just 26M/year
@geofft. Figured three would be more team friendly. Who cares if he leaves when his production drops.
john henry spending money? this is impossible, someone must have hacked into his computer
Probably his interpreter
That’s funny
The Red Sox have been spending around the luxury tax threshold every year and now they are over the threshold.
Bonkers
crazy
Cheaters ha
Yes Boston did cheat to win the 2018 World Series—facts don’t change even if no one will talk about it
Offer up some proof
MLB’s investigation of the 2018 Red Sox went on for months and uncovered no evidence of cheating. They admitted this in their report when they said they have a “factual dispute”, “largely have no direct evidence” and “no written record, recording or other contemporaneous evidence of the underlying events”. If there was any evidence, the facts would not be in dispute. The conclusion of cheating “on at least some occasions” was clearly based on speculation as MLB’s investigation failed to document a single instance of cheating. This was very unfair to the Red Sox and Red Sox fans. The report is still available on mlb.com for all to read.
Manfreds mlb word is good enough for me
Hawkeye, Boston didn’t “cheat” to win. MLB sent a memo explicitly declaring that using tech/video to “steal signs” (as in, to steal them in real time to then respond to in the moment) was banned. Boston thought it was being slick by not clearly violating that memo, using video to LEARN signs so it could then teach the players what to look for in the not-banned in person sign stealing. I don’t blame MLB for penalizing the team, as it wanted to take an ultra hard line in the wake of the Houston scandal and so threw the book at the Red Sox, and that was a risk Boston took when it tried the gamesmanship. No objection to them being punished, but any honest person needs to admit to what they did do versus what they didn’t do. They didn’t use tech to steal signs, therefore they didn’t “cheat”, but they skirted close enough that they not unfairly were made an example of. That’s the deal.
Today is officially Matt Shaw day.
Boston can have him. $120M?? I guess cheating does pay.
In reality he never collects $120 million from the Red Sox. If he has a big season it’s guaranteed he opts out and tries his luck at a bigger payday
I highly doubt he’ll leave. It’s absolutely certainly not guaranteed, as you say. It would take a lot of stars aligning with a resurgence of a season and the contract would have to be front loaded…
$40M per year is not handed out to a lot of 32 year old second basemen easily.
$40 mil a year is a lot more than Astros offered. As an Astros fan I get it and wish him luck in Boston.
“$40M a year is a lot more”…Scott, I thought we talked about this already. Everyone knows it’s you and nobody will believe your spin, that $40M is more than the $155M+ offered by the Astros.
Except people do agree with him as evidenfed by his upvotes. It’s not a spin; time has value, too. Baseball players age. AAV can be more important than total dollars when the goal is to maximize total dollars over all contracts not just one contract. There’s more nuance to this than you’re willing to admit.
I’m not sure what you’re talking about…$40m a year is inarguably more than the Astros offered, which was less than $30m a year.
He’s also getting $120m for 3 years vs ~$160m for 6 years. I’m willing to bet Bregman makes a lot more than $40m over that three year span.
Market and Bitcoin was 20 something not that long ago. 3 years he can easily top that 6 year deal just investing. And he probably isn’t retiring at 33 so he will make something playing baseball.
Overpay
Over pay to keep the term short. Not really a bad deal for either side.
40 million for a dude on a decline is a bad deal for Boston—BUT, they have more than enough funds on hand and revenue to withstand a stupid contract.
it’s one thing to give 40 million over 6 years vs 3. that’s what makes this an ok deal for boston and not a bad one
He’s mashed at Fenway. Don’t discount that yet.
Awful deal for Boston. Bregman probably going to cry for weeks from being so happy.
Not in terms of total guaranteed dollars.
Based on what we know from countless reports on Bregman this offseason, he would have taken a 6 or 7 year deal if any team has been willing to offer a $30 million AAV. That would have been a far worse contract. Plus, there’s some amount of deferred money in the deal, which explains the inflated annual salary.
He’s moving to a far more hitter friendly park in Fenway and the opt outs should keep him motivated. FWIW, last season he had his highest hard hit rate and exit velocity since 2019. There’s no reason the bat can’t bounce back if he starts hitting the ball in the air more again and increase his fly ball rate.
That’s a ton of money for a guy without a clear fit in the line-up.
2b and if he stays past year 1, then devers will probably have to move
Devers is a solid 3B and the franchises cornerstone. You don’t move Devers to accommodate this clown.
Very few people seem to think he is solid at 3rd. Everyone except him and his agent has talked about moving him off of there.
Devers and solid 3b don’t belong in the same sentence. If everything goes right, and with help from scorers, he is a just below average 3B. Most years fall somewhere less than that.
@jakethesnizake
Defensively Bregman is substantially better than Devers who is far from being a clown.
Yaaaaaaaaa
“A solid 3rd baseman”??? Are you joking ?
@jake So you ve never watched a Red Sox game I take it. Devers is anything but a solid 3B.
I think devers is moving to DH because it makes no sense for him to stay at 3rd with a GGlover incoming
Defense has been an issue in Boston for a while now. An infield of Devers at 3rd, Story at SS, Bregman at 2B, and Casas at 1B sounds like a long season for the pitching staff.
That’s a little over 90 million for an IF that is maybe the worst in baseball defensively.
Awful contract but you find a spot for Bregmans bat in any lineup.
It’s a lot of money but a player his caliber, they’ll find a spot for him.
There is a clear fit at 3rd, the question do the make Devers DH or move to 1B.
He’s gonna be at 2nd
Dang. What a nerd.
From one cheating team to another.
HF… but, he’s worth more than Rendon!
It’s an annual way overpay but a short term. Interesting.
Wow that’s crazy. Good for him. I guess that’s why players wait until the last minute to sign.
Beantown making an end run! Love to see it, enjoy the season gents!
That’s a very large AAV, but limited years. Interesting deal, curious to see how it is structured.
Bregman gets 40 large a year and can opt out after each season…could be a 1 year hit or a 2 year stay…..or if he continues to decline, three mediocre years for MVP money
No way is Alex Bregman a $40m/year player. That’s nuts.
Once the season starts, yes he will be a $40M year player.
I called that! Short term, huge money, so he can go on the market and get the rest of the 6/200 he was looking for
He’ll eat poop in 2025 and wind up staying put for all three. Big overpay.
coprophagia
For 40 million a year, the Red Sox can have him. Despite bregman wanting to sign with the tigers, I wouldn’t turn down that offer either.
Bregman is probably laughing his ass off the he got Boston to pay 40 million a year for him. I wanted him to stay in Houston, but 40 million is a stupid overpay
again it’s only for 3 years. you keep getting hung up over the AAV. you’d actually have more of a point if the sox gave him 5 years or more but they didn’t.
Bregman did NOT WANT to sign with Detroit, who you kidding?
He signed with the team with best stadium for righties outside of the team he just left
Det offered the 6 yrs he wanted. Offered more total money than Hou, Chi and Boston. He just didn’t want to sign w DET.
So, ef’m. We move on.
Bregman said himself that he wanted to go to Detroit. Get your facts straight
So glad the Tigers didn’t go there. He is not worth $40 mil a year or the 6-7 year deal he wanted.
Agreed. I wanted the tigers to get bregman, but he’s not worth that money. And a 6-7 year deal would be very risky. Especially if you remember what happened with Baez
For sure, Tigs will be OK with Vierling and Jung
Came here to say the same thing. Money better spent on Skub.
I’m relieved the Tigers didn’t spend that on him.
Maybe Harris will make a trade. Red Sox still need pitching and have a deep farm. Tigers are deep w/pitching.
Amen
Devers stays at 3B, right?
Congrats Red Sox fans!
To start I’m sure. But if Campbell is tearing it up and devers is hacking out at 3b, there will have to be a hard conversation.
Maybe Bregs to 2B? Superior glove over Devers, though… maybe perma-DH for Devers?
Let’s see if Devers starts taking reps at 2B in ST. I doubt he’ll be happy being DH if he doesn’t even want to move off 3B.
Papi will talk him into it. Going to DH pretty much full time put him in the HOF.
Really 3 options.
1. Devers at 3B. Bregman at 2B which blocks the young kids, forcing a trade.
2. Devers at DH. Forces a Yoshida trade which seems very unlikely.
3. Devers at 1B. This is the scenario I like the least, and involves trying to find a match for Casas or Yoshida. Which again, seems though.
Love that they are willing to spend 40MM AAV on Bregman on the decline bat wise but won’t crack open the piggy bank to sign actual pitching help.
Buehler not actual help? Crochet, irrespective of how he was obtained?
Buehler last pitched well in what, 2021?
Crochet pitched a great half season, and if they want to extend him, he would be cheapest before he has a chance to tack on more, healthy innings.
Maybe that’s the piggybank move for the pitching this year? I would attempt the same thing…
For the record, I wanted Buehler at a lower AAV for my Pads. We’ll settle on Pivetta, I guess! Cheers
Did you forget about the world series that just happened?
And what, hope they win a bidding war for Cease? Not many top tier options this coming off season compared to the last two years.
I meant extend Crochet now-ish, but yeah Cease probably headlines next year’s TOR options.
Hey, looks like there was another 6-year-offer on the table after all! Oh, wait….
Lol. I’m sure Jon Heyman and Co. will have something to say to that.
x.com/CodyStavenhagen/status/1889897099443184126?t…
Wowzers……
$40 million a year for a declining 31 year old Alex Bregman is crazy, even if it is only a 3 year guarantee.
It’s not even that…Bregman can opt out after each year
He can, but it isn’t certain that he will.
The money is guaranteed if he wants it.
MoTie not liking this new development.
I guess this makes it either New York or Houston for Arenado.
Arenado is happy to stay in St. Louis.
Why would Houston want Arenado now ?
How many times does Arenado have to block a trade to Houston? Is his NTC like a “Get Out of Jail Free” Monopoly card that you have to turn in upon usage? I guess he’s all but assured to be an Astro now!!!
Sox might still trade for Arenado and have Bergman play 2nd, Devers to DH full time. Lots of bats in the lineup now and gold glove potential at 4-5 positions,
Obviously Bregman is taking the money, but if he has to play 3B/DH with Devers, doesn’t that mean that Yoshida would be forced back into playing LF and bringing with him bad defense?
Roman Anthony.
Hey they finally got the RHH they needed…. who has reverse splits and is trending downward… and blocks one of the best prospects in baseball… and locks up payroll for 3 years.
Nice own goal, guys.
Don’t forget there needs to be at least one corresponding move, because there is no reason to have Yoshida and Grissom/Campbell on the roster. They need to free up a spot for Devers and Bregman.
Stroman? Since Henry found his wallet.
In the short term it looks like Yoshida will start on the IL. Long term, who knows what happens.
Vltc – yeah but I think it’s important to get the long term solution in place, because if you want to get Grissom/Campbell ABs, the earlier the better.
I don’t think stashing them in the minors would work, not enough roster spots unless you throw Campbell in the OF which may expose some defensive issues and decrease his trade value.
The way I see it is
DH – Devers
2b – Campbell
3b – Bregman
IL – Yoshida
When Yoshida is healthy,that looks like a Yoshida problem more than anyone else. Any injury and it probably works itself out this year. Next year, someone gets offloaded.
It just seems like they are having a hard time moving Yoshida due to them not wanting to eat a ton of salary.
I think this signing just causes more problems than it solves, for now. And the money could have been better off on adding actual pitching help.
Grissom and Campbell can both be optioned to AAA… Campbell can play LF too and if he’s hitting they’ll find ABs for him. Grissom might be the odd man out… but he is still young enough that if he really turns it around I’m sure they find a way to get him into enough games whether it be because of injury or getting creative.
Grissom really needs to improve his defense. He was historically a sub-par fielder with atlanta, and, IF defense has been an Achilles heel for Boston of late as it is.
Really to see this move for what it is, bregman probably opts out and tests the market free of a QO with a solid season at any point.
Oof, you just reminded me that we are also giving up a draft pick for this. I just threw up a little.
Well, if it makes it easier to swallow just pretend breslow never gave pivetta the QO, that pivetta held out till after the draft to sign, or that the second rnd pick dropped to 77th overall.
They lose a draft pick for Bregman and gain one from Pivetta.
Suit – I had assumed part of the stalemate in this deal was breslow had a set $$$ in mind accounting for loss of the 2md round pick.
I also think the front office at this point was assuming Pivetta would wait out the draft and was no longer expecting the QO compensation.
As soon as I saw pivetta sign I began thinking it may change the calculation on Bregman, as the pick loss was nearly a wash.
Only if Bregman doesn’t opt out….but since he’s in a bit of decline right now, I’m willing to bet he sticks it to Boston and stays for the full 3 years. He can opt out after each year. CRAZY overpay
Hawkeye – completely agree.
To be clear, I think Bregman should be a help this year, but I peg him for a relatively modest 2.5 WAR.
In the end, it’s $120M for 5, maybe 6 WAR best case, spread over 3 years? And an awkward fit to boot?
i feel like the 2 fan bases that complained the most, non stop, every second of every minute of every day for the last 4 months are padres + redsox and both tms just made great signings
Padres made a very good signing. Sox, not so much unless half the money is deferred.
Lol
What is it with boston fans? Never satisfied, always unhappy
You can add in Mets fans, Reds fans, and Mariners fans too
Cora knows what value he brings to the dugout but 40M a year? Good for him. Won’t play out well for Boston I’m afraid.
Boston, we have a problem. $40M per for Bregman? That’s a serious overpay. Astonished.
Arenado’s movers are on line 1. They want to know if they should unload the moving van.
I knew the Cubs wouldn’t sign him. Barring a bad year, this is a one year, 40M deal. The AAV would have taken Cubs over the tax line and that cheap ass Ricketts won’t do it again. Maybe if Hoyer hadn’t gone over it last year by such a small margin. A late trade would have let them duck under the tax but despite being a numbers guy, apparently math isn’t his best subject.
Can not believe he only got 3 years.
Meh, .270 career BA.
His offense has been trending downward the last 3 seasons and he’s about to turn 31.
5 or 6 years at the $30+ million AAV he wanted was always a longshot.
Im curious to see how the infield shakes out now. Devers doesnt want to move off 3b, does bregman go to ss or 2b with story manning the other? Or do you bruise devers ego and move him to 1b and trade casas?
Devers is a terrible 3rd baseman and should play where he is told to play.
Well, that’s interesting.
Horrible deal for the Sox.
Where is he going to play? Are they finding a taker for Yoshida? If not, then you have Campbell and Grissom wasting away.
Don’t spend money on actual SP but pay 40MM for Bregman whose bat has been declining for the last 3 years.
You have to think there’s a corresponding move lined up. Anything ranging from a Casas trade to a straight up release of Masa. I think Raffy will take one for the team and go to DH. Bregman at 3rd. Full on competition at 2B which is nice.
And now all of a sudden Boston has a decent infield. Contract details aside, I like this move a lot.
There has to be another trade incoming, because even if Yoshida starts in the IL, they sooner they figure out the roster situation and can get everyone consistent ABs and innings they will.be better off.
It just complicated things a lot more rather than spending money to actually fix the rotation.
Well at least I won’t have to wake up at least once in the middle of the night to check this page anymore.
I don’t get it. We spend the last 5 years rebuilding our farm system and now we have some solid prospects ready to make contributions and we sign players blocking their path to the big leagues.
It’s weird, particularly if the reported contract details are accurate.
None of them is really a surefire third baseman, this shouldn’t affect anything. Campbell might be able to play there, but it’s not a sure thing. He has a quicker path to the majors being the guy who plugs the ongoing black hole at second base, anyways.
Likewise Mayer is going to be the shortstop of the future. If he isn’t able to stick there as some have expressed a fear of, I don’t think he’s going to fare any better at third in that case. So that’s another guy not blocked or displaced by this.
The other elite bats in our system are mostly all outfielders.
The fact reporting recently said they were going to test Mayer out at other IF positions make me think this FO sees what many fans have said since the story/Bogey situation played out… namely that Mayer is NOT a lock on ‘ss of the future’…
Boston has 1b/dh well covered. But the rest up the middle, less so. You’d hope mayer/campbell/grissom could put something together, but, I think we likely see one plus-level player, one average/journeyman, and one that doesn’t put it all the way together due to ability/injury issues in the group.
What is the issue with Mayer? I’m not able to watch MiLB action most of the time so I haven’t really been able to get the live “eye test” myself. But just going off highlights I’ve seen and reports I’ve read, his defense at short doesn’t sound like a worry. Is it his speed/reaction time or something? I’m obviously missing something here and I’m very curious for an intelligent explanation on that (I’m not doubting that there is or may be one, I’ve just been trying to look a little on my own and not finding one).
The only worries about Mayer at this point is he might have trouble hitting curve balls and might have trouble staying healthy. I am not too worried about his health as I think they have been very cautious with him.
Dirty – Suit pretty much has it. You know, Mondesi had some tools and was well regarded, but, never put it together to reach his potential.
Mayer has some health flags, the hitting needs some work, he’s made some poor decisions about knowing when to not try gritting through a health issue that I hope he’s finally understanding and outgrowing. But he really never lived up to the bill for being taken as high as he was – not his fault for being picked though.
One question that may hold him back is his ability to adjust. Moving through the minors he has been slow to make adjustments when changing levels or when he’s attacked differently. Then he finds something that works and is alright again.
BUT, that pattern could be a deadly sin at the MLB level where pitchers and coaching staffs find new ways to attack you and you constantly need to be adjusting and re-adjusting.
It’s not saying he can’t be a contributor, but, he’s a long way from being a regular silver slugger/allstar caliber player like the guy he was anointed to replace when drafted.
Makes sense, got it. Thanks to you both. That does make sense and especially justifies tempering our expectations for him right away…but I think also helps support the point that if he doesn’t stick at short, I think it’s an issue of him not sticking period. It’s not like poor range or a noodle arm or something that you can hide with a position change. He’s either going to learn to hit major league pitching or he’s not. I’m hoping for all hope that he does, because if he busts to me that kind of means the Chaim Bloom era was for nothing. As mad as I’ll always be about how they let Betts and Bogaerts out the door it’s obviously an easier pill to swallow if the prospects hit.
Whoa
i just realize astros lost tucker + bregman
and somehow they’ll still win the al west
get those trash cans ready boys!
Spankees are toast, they lost Soso!
Bonkers move by the Redsox.
Well, this will be the final straw for the cubbies going very far with the expectations put on a rookie 3rd baseman and all that pressure to perform out of the gate at a high level
A contract like that is the Scott Boras Special!
(I don’t like Scott Boras)
Good to see.
$40MM a season!!!! That is crazy high. He isn’t nearly worth that. Guess he made it worth the wait. Good for him.
It would be nice if the Red Sox could opt out.
Bregman reunion with Cora….
Finally! And exactly what I wanted – shorter term, higher AAV. This is perfect. He is still a perfectly fine player for the next 3 or 4 years, I’m willing to bet. I don’t want his mid/late 30’s and they won’t be our problem.
Great move, please tell me there is a corresponding move of Devers to DH and I’ll really be fired up!
And thanks for at least giving us something to look forward to again, guys. This team should be plenty fun to watch.
Is Devers defensive weakness his fielding, his throws, or both?
Absolutely both.
I’d say it’s been a pretty solid off-season for Breslow and the Sox at this point.
Now to find a trade partner for Yoshida to complete it.
Something amiss here? $40mm AAV? That cannot be possible.
for 3 years why not. Better than 40 AAV over 6
Deferrals. And similar to others for veterans recently the extremely high AAV instead of a long term (Scherzer and Verlander a few years ago, Bauer)
What a joke of a consolation move and the lazy shameless landing spot of a cheater back working under a fellow cheater.
Awesome, he’s not going to the Tigers, especially on this horrific contract!!!
I don’t see a 32 year old Bregman opting out after a year unless he has a monster year…
Oh what a night! That’s a lot of cash for 3 years, goodness!
The Yankees would’ve been paying $84M for him if they did this deal!
It’s good to see an old franchise like the Red Sox make a big move. Great for them!
Congrats to the Red Sox. Great job on investing to make your team better
Big love that likely sets up another move.
Gotta say, I had him all but looking for property in Detroit. Is second base a possibility? That is one smoking lineup.
alonso was expecting 150mil, got essentially 30
bregman expecting 200+mil, got 120
boras is toast. finished. and before you even begin to say “what about soto?” juan soto doesnt need boras to get 765 mil$ he woulda gotten the biggest contract ever no matter who represented him. my 100 year old grandmother coulda gotten him 765 mil. time for boras to retire . its not 2000 anymore, he cant negotiate deals, he has no leverage, clueless old greedy washed up useless soulless shark.
From the Crawford box and Altuve/Yordan in front, to the Monster and Jarren/Devers.
Smart man, and good riddance
Keep in mind joke stadium, so should help keep his numbers up. Same with Minute Maid though.
I would let Casas DH and let Yoshida sink or swim in LF
Arenado gonna be a Cardinal in 2025…
Still angels left since Rendon just had hip surgery. Or maybe tigers can pry him away.
Angels are paying Rendon $38+ million to sit on the IL for what will be most of, if not all of the coming season plus another $5 million to Yoan Moncada to take his place. Doubtful they want to add Arenado’s $27 million and pay over $70 million for one position
So Bregman and Judge now have the same AAV on their contracts….
Makes sense. Two cheaters back together
Good decision by Bregman to go to Boston. It’ll be easier to hear the trash cans reflected off the green monster.
the people getting hung over the AAV are missing the point. If the sox did that over 5 years it’s be awful. 3 years isn’t bad
Gotta totally hate defferals.
Predicting aweful things for the economy is UNAMERICAN AND SHOULD BE BANNED FROM BASEBALL!!!+?×”-,×[=<=!!!!!
What?
For everyone complaining about the money: does it really matter? It’s not your money. And if the Sox spend less, are you under the impression ticket prices will drop? Lol. They might as well spend. It’s already expensive. If you weren’t already priced out, you ain’t gonna be now. If you’re not worried about affordability, why are you worried about how much they’re paying people?
I’m not complaining about the money, but I do think it’s a bad move for Boston. If I were a Red Sox fan, I would be complaining.
Wow. Woooowww. Love this. I had a feeling when Arenado to Boston rumors were coming up. They had to be close. A couple fun contracts today with Pivetta and can’t wait to see the weird details on this one
These short, high AAV contracts will still ruin many teams, just not for as long. Boston will be celebrating in 3 years when they’re finally able to get rid of the guy because he’s never opting out.
Reuniting the cheaters!
This feels like a good compromise for both sides. Bregman had already rejected two separate offers over a reduced annual salary so he gets his high annual AAV. Boston avoids a long term commitment to a player many believe is in decline.
FWIW, in 2024 Bregman had his highest hard hit rate and exit velocity since 2019. Fenway is certainly a hitter friendly environment and the opt outs should keep him motivated. There’s no reason his bat can’t bounce back if he starts hitting the ball in the air with more consistency again.
Devers has led the majors in errors at his position FOR THE LAST 7 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. Bregman is a Gold Glove 3rd baseman. Make Devers the DH that he has always been. Trade Yoshi, or just eat the $18 mil a year for the next 2 years. Casas is too valuable to trade. And Devers can just suck it up – if he knew how to catch and throw at the major league level, WE’D HAVE SEEN IT BY NOW.
Devers has better range than Casas, most of his errors come from wild throws across the diamond after a making great snag. I would rotate both between 1B/DH to maximize their durability equally. I also don’t give up on a healthy Yoshida with a chip on his shoulder, I fully believe that he could lead the team in avg/obp if treated better by Cora this season.
To Yoshida, being ‘treated better’ means playing the OF regularly.
Nothing in yoshida’s bat makes up for the loss of one of abreu/rafaela/Duran in the OF, particularly with Anthony knocking the door off its hinges
Nobody was offering him $30 mil a year… I know! Let’s give him $40 mil a year!!
Not my money, and not my team, but this sure seems foolish.
well one team offered him 156 million and another offered `120 so how foolish was it. getting hung up over the AAV is missing the forest for the trees,
Wow! Didn’t expect that at all. Definitely an overpay but he’s going to hit bombs there.
Man Detroit has to be happy that with that kinda money he went to Boston. Ask Javier Biaz.
remind me how many years did Baez sign for vs Bregman?
6 140 my best friend is a tigers fan and he just’s wants him off the team. He is kind of a pain and is holding them back.
well. Detroit allegedly had another Javier Baez “6 year with an opt out after year 2” contract on the table that was for the most dollars…
so…I’m glad he went to Boston.
if that was the contract Detroit had on the table, Detroit hasn’t learned their lesson from Javier Baez yet and are doomed to a continuous cycle of self inflicted wounds….and got lucky that he chose a higher AAV in Boston.
YEP, sounds about right ✅️ and Dipoto shipped Suarez off to Arizona at 12.5M for FREE!!! He needs to be FIRED!!! There’s literally 15 real 3rd baseman in All of Baseball… SMH
Astro fan here glad he’s gone we will take the extra pick in the draft and we are glad we aren’t paying the crazy salary to keep him!
What a horrible signing. This s*cks. Breslow found a way to screw up this year and many years to come. What a dbag..
Wow. I was just thinking today that Boston would be a perfect fit for him.
Should have spent bigger on SP. The offense has cheap studs on the way including two IF.
Snell, Burnes or Fried made more sense, especially if Bregman is blocking Campbell, the additional fWAR may not be much in comparison.
Lifelong Sox fan..
Bregman is a good player, not a great player..
The size of that contract is for a great player at his peak who also brings some sort of star power to a franchise..
Bregman is on the wrong side of thirty, probably slowly regressing, and most likely blocking a prospect or two Sox fans have patiently awaited as the Sox built up a farm system..
But now it seems they’ve scrapped their plan to sign this guy.
According to Petzold @ Freep, Bregman turned down 6 years/$170+M from Tigers.
they have learned nothing with seeing they made that offer.
it allegedly had an opt out after year 2…sound familiar?
Huge overpay.. I wouldn’t even consider the opt outs being used because he will never produce enough to justify that contract. Boris is a Magician!!
Bombshell! This leaves the Astros in a significantly worse place (they have a had a disastrous offseason), and while this move will not give the Red Sox a division title, it will definitely make them more competitive.
Cheater. Always will be.
Wow.
CHEATER! Disappointed in Boston for signing the fraud
I like this and more contracts should be structured like this. Pay higher AAV for the years you’re getting value. $40m / year seems a lot but I’d much rather this than 6 years /$200m and be paying $33m in 2031 for an over the hill 38 year old.
2nd biggest overpay of the offseason.
I am not a Red Sox fan, I would go so far as to say I am a Red Sox hater, but its really not that bad of a deal. Obviously he is overpaid these 3 years but you get none of the risk of the horrible years post age 33! Also I assume the deferrals will lower the AAV significantly, we have to see how it is structured, but I imagine as the details come out it will look better for the Sox.
Evidently, Detroit offered $170M over 6 years.
That’s a ton of bullets they just dodged and can add that to their Skubal extension (whose agent will continue to laugh off any offer they make).
I’d just be happy if they extend Greene and maybe even Meadows…
act like the Braves did with their good position players.
WOW! Good for Bregman! 40 AAV with opt outs after every season?!? Desperate overpay by Boston. Houston, Chicago, Detroit dodged a bullet. He’s not that dude, not at that price for sure.
“What an overpay.” This does not matter. It’s 3 years (maybe). They can more than afford to overpay. That’s what big market teams do. A much needed signing to call this a good offseason for the Red Sox.
Speaking of the AL East is this hypothetical trade of mine a trade made in Heaven?
Luis Castillo for Vladdy Jr.
Why do the Jays need Castillo if they trade Vladdy? They will want several top prospects, you can keep Castillo.
Contract wise: incredibly smart deal , wow.
Team wise: stupid choice , with the jays and Yankees getting better in the off season (and Orioles already better) he obviously doesn’t care about winning.
Red sox won’t finish higher than 4th. Hope he likes losing because aside from him and Devers , who else is going to hit for the team.
I hope opposing teams boo this piece of garage who obviously only cares about money.
How are the Jays better? They added Scherzer who is a wild card and Santander because nobody else would sign there. Boston added Crochet to a team that outperformed Toronto and now Bregman, despite the contract and lack of fit, makes them better. Baltimore lost Burnes and I guess Santander for Oneil is a push. 4th would be an injury plagued underperformance for Boston.
If santandar hits like how he did last season , Guerrero has another season and bichette hits again you have a solid 2-3-4 punch.
Their pitching staff and bullpen are top 8 in all of the majors.
They just need run support.
If they call up Martinez this season he could be that 4th thumper they need.
Definitely better than the rays and probably the Red Sox.
O neill hitting 31 was awesome!!! But he’s gone. Young guy replaced by an aging Bregman. Take either one of them off the team. The team is just average. You had 2 20+ hr hitters and a bunch of 15 & 13 hr hitters. All platoon players.
This team is average at best.
How also do I know ? Their record last year ..81-81. .500 .. which is par. Also known as average.
They didn’t do anything spectacular, they will be lucky to finish 3rd. But reasonably will finish 4th.
Let’s see here…
You’ve got the #2, #8, and #12 prospects in baseball sitting in AAA who have hit well in the minors.
You’ve got Casas who has power coming back from an oddball injury. You had a. 8.7war outfielder popping 20+ hr and hitting for average. In the other corner OF you’ve got another solid ofer hitting mid-teens in hrs and a solid obp.
Somehow I think they’ve got some guys besides Devers and bregman to hit for the team….
Sox continue to make big contracts when they make the least sense, there is no short or long term organizational management. Sign Story when not needed, see the waste that has been…then sign Bregman when not needed and do it again. They have a glut of positional players and spend big AAV to add to the logjam. Bergman is a decent player, just doesn’t fit in current organizational needs, especially at that price. Should have signed Scott, traded for Suarez, and rolled the dice with the youth movement.
$40 mil per year for Bregman? I guess The Angels got a hell of deal with Rendon!!
What a ridiculously terrible contract for the Red Sox!
Oh look! The Red Sox deferred some of Bregman’s money. Guess there will be a lot of questions concerning the meaning of deferred money. The Red Sox are ruining baseball!
Agreed. It should not be allowed. Sets a terrible precedent.
Cubs whiff again. Of course
Definitely not a whiff, likely a blessing.
No! No, no, no!
We didn’t want him. I don’t even like that guy. Drastic overpay. Should have gotten Arenado and let the kids play.
Do they already have a Yoshida taker? Is Devers pissed? I would be. Brining the enemy in at $10 more a year.
This is very disappointing.
Oh snap
Incoming 260/330/420 season
Wow, Cub “fans” thought he was a lock. Smart move for Bregman.
Horrible overpay for a Boras client. Why do teams keep doing this? If anything it should have been team options and not player options.
$40M a year for Bregman is absurd lol. Massive overpay.
Detroit could have used Bregman, but probably for the best he didn’t sign 6 years. If Vierling and Jung don’t work out, they should call the Rockies about Ryan McMahon.
Big signing. It’s weird that a player of this quality has sit on the market this long. But when you dive I to the stats, while valuable, he hasn’t put up the same stats since the report came out in 2020. Neither has any player after leaving Houston. Quite possible it’s a coincidence but that’s what the stats say
Loving the signing by Boston. Their fans love the scrappy small guy and Bregman fits right in.
He should have taken the Astros 156 they said….
Houston we have a problem
They said Alonso was bad at 30 for 1, Bregman 40 for 3?
If teams are trending this way, is it really bad or the new normal when they don’t want to make a longer commitment?
Cubs offered him the same dollar amount but with a 4th year. Seems like the highest aav was his first priority
$40M per year for a player with declining numbers. Ouch! Seems like a desperation move here by Boston with the massive overpay.
Glad that is over. As a Cubs fan I was torn over this. But not mad as I really want to see Shaw get full run at 3B. Jed would be wise to sign Turner now. Solid depth piece
If it wasn’t for Soto Bregman could have gone right to the top of the most hated “ALL TIME” Yankee opponent list before even putting on the uniform. He’s already way up there on the current hated Yankee opponent list
Finally this is over. Play ball
Bregman the short porch hero lmao. He can’t hit in real ballprks!
Well he now calls fenway home so..guess he will remain a hero?
F+++++++++++++ One of the worst contracts ever handed out. Not close to the worst.
Atlanta should come in and help them get out of that Yoshida contract with how bad they fleeced them on Sale. And the funniest part is if they did help and take Yoshida he would immediately turn into an all star player.
Very happy for all us Boston fans! Good signing n should be a fun yr!
Uh oh!!!! There’s deferred money! Everybody put your cryin’ pants on and let’s all have a good cry and talk about how baseball is ruined.
This guy should do very well in fenway..be interesting to see if he plays 2b or 3b
Is this an overpay? probably, is craig breslow changing his X handle to “BigBalls 2” you bet your ass he is lol now go win something! Go sox
We’ll have to wait and see how much is deferred. But at least the Red Sox didn’t tie themselves to a ridiculously long-term contract for a clearly declining player. Not accounting for deferrals Bregman will make as much as Aaron Judge, who has accumulated just a few more WAR than Alex over the past few seasons. But the big financial hit won’t last for too long.
And if Bregman has a big 2025 season, the financial hot might only last for one year. If he continues to decline – much more likely for the 31-year-old – the hit will only last for two more seasons max.
Thank you John Henry.We needed a right handed bat to be World Series contenders.A New York fan who wants nothing better than to win the AL East over the Yankees.Win the World Series.Would be 5 in my lifetime.
Opt-outs after each year. No thanks. Zero ability to trade him at the deadline. No leverage for Boston. Any injury or poor performance, player is fully protected and Boston does nothing but pay him. Huge AAV. Teams have to be smarter than this. Stop the insanity.
My guess is that this is heavily deferred—enough to bring the current day value to 30MM or less. We’ll see though.
It’s really a shame that the Nats did not pursue a decent veteran player and team leader such as Bregman. It’s not like fretting about blocking House, who is still such an open question as a prospect, should be a driving concern.
Thank you bregman for not taking the tigers deal absolute overpayment holy cow not worth it thank you Boston thank you for saving us we will get the same production out of our rookie jace Jung for a fraction or I wouldn’t mind them trading for Nolan arenado now that Boston didn’t do it way better off paying for him and letting our prospects get experience to take over after arenados deal is up in 2 years I believe
40m/yr for a 4war infielder with a checkered history.. Massive overpay.