While other MLB teams are wrapping up their offseasons, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is urging his executive office to add the best remaining free agent on the market to the squad before spring training. Alex Bregman has had a tough winter with the Scott Boras client attempting to negotiate a long-term contract but failing. Several teams remain interested in signing Bregman, including the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Cubs, Tigers, and, at the proper price, the Astros.
However, few, if any, of those organizations want to give Bregman a long-term contract. The gold glove third baseman is on the wrong side of 30 years old and coming from a poor season offensively, in which he had a.768 OPS is the lowest in his career. Bregman can still provide solid defense and pop in the middle of any lineup, but it’s worth considering whether he’s worth his asking price. Boras has not changed his stance; he lacks leverage.
Alex Cora puts pressure on Red Sox front office to sign Alex Bregman
Bregman’s strongest leverage may be his previous coaches, Cora and AJ Hinch. Cora has long supported Bregman in Boston, but there is little he can do to compel Craig Breslow to make a trade. However, if you read between the lines of his most recent comment on Boston’s chances, you will see a touch of pressure. Two winters ago, the Red Sox front management threatened to go ‘full speed’. While they’ve made some excellent moves since then, they haven’t been the most aggressive in free agency.
“Thirty teams in the big leagues, they’re going to say all the right things—we’re a playoff team, and our goal is to win the World Series,” Cora told the crowd. “For me, this year is all about work. Last year, we were pretty vocal about how we were a World Series candidate. “This year is about working and improving.”
Cora is ready to get to work, and attaining the Red Sox’s ultimate aim would be much easier with Bregman in the lineup on a daily basis. Signing Bregman would result in a bit of a stalemate in the Red Sox infield. Rafael Devers may have to move positions. Boston might trade Triston Casas, which doesn’t make a lot of sense on paper, given his age and production. Bregman can even play second base. The Red Sox have options, even if they aren’t happy.
Leave a Reply