Red Sox Pursuing $200 Million Free Agent After Missing on Juan Soto

The Boston Red Sox surprised the baseball world with their pursuit of Juan Soto. For years the Red Sox have been cutting payroll and operating in a much more conservative manner than in years prior. Their reported offer to Soto of $700 million over 15 years far exceeded any projections for the team’s offer.

After missing out on Soto, the Red Sox are still slated for an aggressive offseason, with a rotation desperately needing top-end additions and a lineup severely lacking in right-handed bats. On Monday, a report emerged about one free agent in particular that the Red Sox could be heavily pursuing.

“Per sources, one of the players the Red Sox might immediately be prioritizing is Alex Bregman,” reported Rob Bradford of WEEI. “He hits from the right side, could slide in as the Sox’ starting second baseman, a position he is open to playing, and represents the type of veteran leadership the Red Sox are looking to add, particularly among the position player group.”

While Bregman does offer a veteran presence and a right-handed bat to the lineup, he does not come without concern. Bregman has seen a steady decline in his offensive production over the last three seasons, slashing just .260/.315/.453 for an OPS of .768 (118 OPS+) in 145 games in 2024. Although it was far from a bad season statistically, especially when considering Bregman also won a Gold Glove this year, it was a season that did not match the reported asking price from his agent Scott Boras.

The Houston Astros have reportedly offered an extension to their longtime infielder worth $156 million, but Bregman and his camp are seeking an offer worth more than $200 million — a steep price to pay for a player who has not seen an All-Star Game since 2019.

“To reel in Bregman, the Red Sox’ front office is certainly going to enter into a different level of discomfort,” Bradford wrote. “Such free agent pursuits necessitate such realities. Need proof? You aren’t going to find anything better than what the Red Sox just experienced with Juan Soto.”

Whether the Red Sox are willing to spend for the 30-year-old is one thing. His fit on the team is another. The Red Sox have their third baseman, Rafael Devers, locked up long-term, and moving him to DH would mean moving Masataka Yoshida’s contract. Trevor Story is set to be the starting shortstop for the next three years, barring a very unlikely opt-out following 2025. Vaughn Grissom, despite a lackluster 2024, should be the placeholder at second base until one of the Red Sox’s many top infield prospects ascends to the major-league level.

While not impossible, the Red Sox would need to make room for the addition Bregman to the infield, and pay an exceptionally high price to do so.

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