The Boston Red Sox have secured the right-handed bat they needed.
On Wednesday, Boston signed veteran third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The deal includes opt-out options after each season.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Bregman’s contract features deferred payments, and his $40 million annual salary surpasses competing offers by over $10 million.
Considered the best remaining free agent, the 30-year-old Bregman brings elite defense, a powerful right-handed swing suited for Fenway Park, and a championship mentality to a team that hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2021.
A two-time World Series champion with the Houston Astros, Bregman will balance a Red Sox lineup that was previously too left-handed-heavy. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow had made acquiring a big right-handed bat a top priority this offseason, and now he can check that off his list.
Last season, Bregman hit .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs and 75 RBIs for Houston. While it wasn’t his best year, the soon-to-be 31-year-old remains a valuable addition as a hitter, defender, and clubhouse leader.
With Bregman in the mix, the Red Sox will have decisions to make regarding their infield. He could shift to second base, where top prospect Kristian Campbell and Vaughn Grissom are set to compete during spring training. Alternatively, Boston could move Rafael Devers to designated hitter and slot Bregman at third, but that raises questions about Masataka Yoshida’s role as DH.
Ultimately, manager Alex Cora and his staff will determine how to configure the lineup, but Bregman’s arrival has certainly made Red Sox spring training in Fort Myers much more intriguing.
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