Red Sox
Alex Bregman has still not signed with a team as pitchers and catchers begin to report to spring training.
With pitchers and catchers set to report to Fort Myers on Wednesday, the Red Sox are reportedly still in the mix for free-agent slugger Alex Bregman.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Bregman is “likely to land with the Red Sox, Cubs or Tigers soon” — with the 31-year-old infielder still mulling his options on the open market after spending the first nine years of his career with the Houston Astros.
“If he goes to Fenway Park, he could pepper the Green Monster while relearning the nuances of playing in the middle infield,” Olney added. “If he goes to Chicago — likely on a short-term, Cody Bellinger-type deal — he will have pressure to produce.
“And if he signs with the Tigers, it would be Detroit’s de facto announcement that with Tarik Skubal two years from free agency, the team’s window to win is now, and the expensive signing of Bregman would be an all-in move.”
The Red Sox have been linked to Bregman throughout the offseason, with Alex Cora speaking highly of the two-time World Series champion on multiple occasions.
“Alex is a good player, man. He’s a complete player,” Cora said at the Winter Meetings. “He’s been on winning teams his whole career. Good defender. Offensively, he’s really good. He’s a guy a lot of people are talking about. I do believe he can impact a big league team, a championship-caliber team. He’s that type of player.”
Even though Boston bolstered its rotation with the additions of Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler this winter, the Red Sox are still in desperate need of a right-handed bat to add to their lineup.
Bregman would fit the bill, with the veteran boasting five 20-homer seasons on his resume. He batted .260 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI over 145 games with Houston this past season.
Despite Boston’s reported interest in Bregman, the Red Sox have yet to get the veteran to put pen to paper on a deal — with The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reporting last month that Boston has not been willing to offer a contract beyond four years.
Last week, Red Sox president Sam Kennedy was asked about the team’s reported pursuit of Bregman.
“I’m not allowed to talk about any specific free agent negotiations or anything,” Kennedy said of Bregman, adding: “But given that he’s unsigned, I think that speaks for itself.”
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