{"id":23225,"date":"2025-02-03T03:33:51","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T03:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=23225"},"modified":"2025-02-03T03:33:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T03:33:51","slug":"red-sox-alex-bregman-rumor-sets-up-familiar-scott-boras-play-thats-best-for-boston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=23225","title":{"rendered":"Red Sox-Alex Bregman rumor sets up familiar Scott Boras play that\u2019s best for Boston"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Boston’s patience might just pay off with Alex Bregman.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Alex<\/picture><\/figure>\n
Alex Bregman, Houston Astros \/ Eric Canha-Imagn Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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The\u00a0MLB free agency<\/a>\u00a0pool continues to dry up, which means the bigger fish are running out of places to hide. Alex Bregman is still unsigned, to the bafflement of many, and it’s still unclear where the All-Star third baseman and two-time World Series champ might actually end up.<\/p>\n

At 30 years old, Bregman is smack in the middle of his prime. He offers an incredibly diverse and balanced skill set, with one of the best plate approaches in baseball and a solid glove at arguably the toughest infield position. After nine very successful (if at times controversial) years with the\u00a0Houston Astros<\/a>, one thing appears increasingly clear \u2014 he ain’t going back.<\/p>\n

Here’s what we do know. Houston has a\u00a0six-year, $156 million contract<\/a>\u00a0on the table and Bregman is not taking the bait. He also has a six-year offer with an opt-out after the first season from a team that “may not be high on his list,” per\u00a0Jon Heyman<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0New York Post<\/em>. Let’s nickname this mystery team, hmmm, “the Toronto Blue Jays” and move on.<\/p>\n

Bregman clearly wants a lucrative long-term contract, in keeping with Scott Boras protocol, but if he doesn’t get the number he’s looking for, we can expect the all-too-predictable pivot to a shorter deal with opt-outs and flexibility. If Boras doesn’t get his money, he will damn sure get another bite at the proverbial apple.<\/p>\n

That could set up the\u00a0Boston Red Sox<\/a>\u00a0quite nicely.<\/p>\n

Red Sox could be in the driver’s seat for Alex Bregman as free agency drags out<\/h2>\n

Boston has been flirting with Bregman all winter. Alex Cora, Bregman’s former bench coach in Houston, has\u00a0waxed poetic<\/a>\u00a0about Bregman’s Gold Glove potential at second base, should he hypothetically share an infield with Rafael Devers. Now, the Red Sox are actually picking up steam in free agency’s biggest remaining sweepstakes.<\/p>\n

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According to Bob Nightengale of\u00a0USA Today<\/em>, the Red Sox and\u00a0Detroit Tigers<\/a>\u00a0are “co-favorites” to sign the former Silver Slugger.<\/p>\n

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