The Boston Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract last offseason and are reportedly seeking a longer deal after opting out.
Bregman is seeking a six-year contract, The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey reported Friday. However, McCaffrey noted that his market is “stronger” this offseason, meaning it will be harder for the Red Sox to acquire him.
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“Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, acknowledged that his staff has been in communication with the Red Sox since the start of the offseason,” McCaffrey wrote. “But Bregman’s market would be stronger without qualifying offers attached like last offseason, which included the Chicago Cubs and now the Arizona Diamondbacks.”
Bregman is having a resurgent season with the Red Sox. Over the past five seasons, he had an OPS of .795 and now has an OPS of .821. This is his first All-Star season since 2019 with the Houston Astros. However, his biggest impact may not have been on the field. He was an outstanding leader for the team and had a huge impact on the young players.
“He’s really like a coach,” Red Sox rookie Marcelo Mayer told The Athletic in July. “I really can’t say enough about how much he helped not just me and Roman (Anthony) but the whole team. He got people to come and watch tape early, whether it was me, (Jalen) Duran or whoever else. I think he just saw the game at a super advanced level compared to most people.”
Bregman is reportedly a priority for the Red Sox, but Craig Breslow and company may have to step out of their comfort zone to retain him. Under Breslow, the Red Sox haven’t been keen on offering long-term deals to players over the age of 30, and that might be what it takes to land Bregman.
Breslow spoke highly of Bregman during the winter meetings, perhaps signaling that he’s willing to consider signing Bregman to a longer contract. However, as more teams come on board, the offers get better.
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“We’ve had a chance to see up close and personal what Alex can bring to the clubhouse and what he can bring to the field,” Craig Breslow said on MLB Network on Dec. 10. “He’s become a leader, especially among those younger guys. His impact on our team is tremendous. We’re obviously still having conversations, but how things will play out, we’re not sure.”
The peak of free agency has slowed. However, after one of these big-name signings, other teams could quickly follow suit. There has long been speculation that Bregman would need a longer deal this winter, but signing a six-year deal before his age-32 season could be viewed as a risk.
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