The Boston Red Sox aimed to make a significant impact this past offseason following a .500 season and a third-place finish in the American League East. They bolstered their roster by trading for Opening Day starter Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox and signing marquee free agent Walker Buehler. However, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow had one more major move in mind.
That move involved adding another star player. Alex Bregman, one of the top free agents on the market, took his time deciding on a new team. Boston’s pursuit was full of twists and turns, but it ultimately paid off when the former Houston Astros standout agreed to a three-year, $120 million contract.
Though the transition wasn’t entirely smooth at first, Bregman has since settled in with the Red Sox. However, before a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers, he made an unexpected revelation.
Alex Bregman Believed He Was Headed to Detroit Before Joining the Red Sox
Speaking to reporters ahead of a Grapefruit League matchup at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida, Bregman admitted that for most of the offseason, he thought he was signing with the Tigers before Boston made a last-minute offer.
“Honestly, I thought I was going there for 98 percent of the offseason,” Bregman told Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. “They’ve got a really good young team. We played them in the playoffs last year, so I know firsthand how talented they are. It was definitely intriguing. We even gave them clearance twice.”
Detroit put together a compelling case to land Bregman. The Tigers were one of the league’s biggest surprises, rallying from a double-digit wild card deficit and sweeping Bregman’s Astros in last October’s Wild Card Series. Additionally, manager A.J. Hinch, who coached Bregman to a World Series title in 2017, played a key role in the recruitment process.
Confident they were close to finalizing the deal, the Tigers extended a six-year, $171.5 million offer, including an opt-out after the second season. However, at the last moment, Boston swooped in with a three-year, $120 million contract featuring $60 million in deferred payments and opt-outs after each of the first two years.
“It was kind of crazy,” Bregman said on Foul Territory. “I met with a lot of teams, and then everything just happened in like the last 30 minutes. It was rapid fire. I truly thought I was going somewhere else the whole time, and then suddenly, in those final moments, we talked to Boston, and the deal got done.”
That whirlwind decision could prove beneficial for the Red Sox. Bregman posted a .260/.315/.453 slash line with 25 home runs and 75 RBIs in his final season with Houston while also winning his first career Gold Glove with six defensive runs saved at third base. With the opportunity to opt out and re-enter free agency, he has extra motivation for a strong season, making him a valuable short-term solution while top prospects Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell continue their development.