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Red Sox are reportedly ‘prioritizing’ Alex Bregman in free agency
"I do believe he can impact a big league team, a championship-caliber team. He’s that type of player.”
The Red Sox lost out on the Juan Soto sweepstakes Sunday night.
But with the Winter Meetings in full swing, Boston has to pivot quickly if it wants to leave Dallas with a few marquee free agents.
And according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford, the Red Sox are already setting their sights on one veteran, right-handed slugger in infielder Alex Bregman.
“Per sources, one of the players the Red Sox might immediately be prioritizing is Alex Bregman,” Bradford wrote Sunday night. “The longtime Astro —who will be 31 years old on Opening Day in 2025 — would necessitate surrendering a draft pick since he was tagged with a qualifying offer by Houston. But Bregman does check off a lot of key boxes for the Sox.
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“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.”
Bregman, who has won two World Series over the span of his nine-year career with the Astros, is coming off a 2024 season where he batted .260 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI over 145 games.
He did win a Gold Glove at third base this past season, finishing the year with six defensive runs saved at the hot corner. Bregman’s presence could prompt the Red Sox to shift Rafael Devers from third to either DH or first base — with the latter scenario becoming a viable option if Boston deals Triston Casas for pitching help.
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The Red Sox have some ties with Bregman; Alex Cora was his bench coach in Houston in 2017.
Boston actually drafted Bregman in the 29th round of the 2012 MLB Draft out of high school, but he kept his collegiate commitment to LSU and was ultimately drafted second overall in the 2015 Draft by Houston.
Speaking at the Winter Meetings on Monday, Cora spoke highly of Bregman and reputation as an impact player both on and off the field.
“Alex is a good player, man. He’s a complete player,” Cora said. “He’s been on winning teams his whole career. Good defender. Offensively, he’s really good. He’s a guy a lot of people are talking about. I do believe he can impact a big league team, a championship-caliber team. He’s that type of player.”
The Red Sox could also add Bregman to the roster without moving either Devers or Casas if they slot him over to second base. Last season, Boston used 11 different players at second base — with the team finding little clarity at that position throughout the 2024 campaign.
Cora stressed that Bregman shouldn’t have any issue moving over to second base, even if his value might be maximized at third base.
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“He should be OK,” said Cora. “We actually had that conversation [about playing second] in ‘17. We made some adjustments at third base. Where he was playing, he was feeling uncomfortable. At the end, it paid off for him.
“He’s a Gold Glover defender at third. But I always envisioned him playing in the middle of the diamond. He can adjust. He has the baseball IQ to do that. People might think the double play might be an issue, but I don’t think so. I think he can do whatever.”
Even if Bregman is a right-handed batter with power, there are plenty of risks that come with signing him.
Not only will he already be 31 at the start of the 2025 season, but his OBP in 2024 was 51 points lower than his career averages.
But if the Red Sox are looking for more pop at the plate and a veteran presence to lead a roster with an influx of young talent on the way, he could be a risk worth taking for Boston.
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