Red Sox Have "Aggressive" Offer On Table For Alex Bregman

[Kimmi]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

There is nothing wrong with improving upon a strength area, like our rotation, especially if you don't view Bello as a great playoff caliber #3 SP'er, but am from the school of thought that it is better to improve the team by addressing your weakest links by trying to bring them to the norm or better.

To me, our #1 weak area is the lack of a big bat, hopefully with power and the ability to hit LHPs well.

We also need a 3Bman (2B, if we play Mayer at 3B.) We could try to fill both needs with one guy. Once could argue Bregman & Bichette don't give us the power we need, but either would net a big plus over what we have now. (It might just keep us even with 2025, but hopefully Contreras and better pitching makes up for other losses.)

I completely understand your and others' position on this.  If we added a bat and not another starter, I'd be okay going with the rotation that we have.  If we added a #2 pitcher and didn't add another bat, I'd be okay going with the position players that we have.  

It would be nice to add both, but I don't see that happening, at least in terms of 'significant' upgrades to both.  Like I said, if we only add one, my preference would be a starting pitcher.

[Kimmi]

Also, please do not sign Bregman for 5 years.

[notin]

Just now, Kimmi said:

I completely understand your and others' position on this.  If we added a bat and not another starter, I'd be okay going with the rotation that we have.  If we added a #2 pitcher and didn't add another bat, I'd be okay going with the position players that we have.  

It would be nice to add both, but I don't see that happening, at least in terms of 'significant' upgrades to both.  Like I said, if we only add one, my preference would be a starting pitcher.

I’m ok with the pitching.  But I do think a 2b/3b upgrade over current likely starter David Hamilton would be nice…

[Kimmi]

Just now, notin said:

I’m ok with the pitching.  But I do think a 2b/3b upgrade over current likely starter David Hamilton would be nice…

LOL  If only Vaughn Grissom had worked out for us.

My main concern with not adding a 2B/3B upgrade is the lack of quality depth at our infield positions, which is a valid reason to add to those positions.

[drewski6]

51 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I completely understand your and others' position on this.  If we added a bat and not another starter, I'd be okay going with the rotation that we have.  If we added a #2 pitcher and didn't add another bat, I'd be okay going with the position players that we have.  

It would be nice to add both, but I don't see that happening, at least in terms of 'significant' upgrades to both.  Like I said, if we only add one, my preference would be a starting pitcher.

Im not sure which thread it is but its buried by now.  BUt we are projected to have one of the very best pitching staffs in the league and one of the very worse offenses. TO imply that pitcher vs bat is preference is just not reality.

We have an excellent pitching staff and bad position players. FUll stop.

[Larry Cook]

Radio guys say Bregman is choosing between us the the cubs!!  
 

looks like both teams have 5 year deals on the table 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Kimmi said:

I completely understand your and others' position on this.  If we added a bat and not another starter, I'd be okay going with the rotation that we have.  If we added a #2 pitcher and didn't add another bat, I'd be okay going with the position players that we have.  

It would be nice to add both, but I don't see that happening, at least in terms of 'significant' upgrades to both.  Like I said, if we only add one, my preference would be a starting pitcher.

There are many ways to build a very good or "better" team. I'd be fine with a SP2.

I doubt we add two key pieces, but I don't think it would be all that hard. We could sign a shorter term contract FA like Suarez or Bassitt and trade for the other piece like Lodolo or KMart/Donovan or even Vientos. 

We can't do KMarte & Suarez without going over the second line, but something like Suarez and then Duran for Lodolo would keep us under the second line. Rafaela for Lodolo works better on BTV and keeps our offense better.

Crochet, Gray, Lodolo, Bello, Oviedo, Sandoval

Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, Weissert, Harrison, Crawford, Hicks, Moran

1. L Anthony CF

2. R Contreras 1B/C

3. L Duran LF

4. R Suarez 3B

5. L Abreu RF

6. R Story SS

7. L Casas 1B/DH or Narvaez C

8. R Romy DH/ L Yoshida DH

9. L Mayer 2B/ R Romy 2B

I'd really like this team, and we'd be under line 2. (No long term deals.)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

For those who want more pitching over an actual good infielder, those pitchers better all be lights out striker outers...

... because ground balls and pop-ups tend to expose a defense that leads the league in ERRORS every year.

And Es don't even include the bane of Alex Cora's existence -- an infield that doesn't consistently convert double plays when needed (and don't reply with stat totals, since there aren't any for blown DPs that extend innings, add to pitch counts, tax bullpens and result in more runs allowed).

[moonslav59]

Just now, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

For those who want more pitching over an actual good infielder, those pitchers better all be lights out striker outers...

... because ground balls and pop-ups tend to expose a defense that leads the league in ERRORS every year.

And Es don't even include the bane of Alex Cora's existence -- an infield that doesn't consistently convert double plays when needed (and don't reply with stat totals, since there aren't any for blown DPs that extend innings, add to pitch counts, tax bullpens and result in more runs allowed).

Well, Suarez would not help the infield defense.

[JoeBrady]

6 hours ago, Kimmi said:

Also, please do not sign Bregman for 5 years.

While acknowledging that you are more likely to be correct, $125M/5 is not onerous and is a good fit.  Assuming that KC doesn't return to the IF, and that Arias replaces Story at the end of his contract, we don't really have a lot of options knocking at the infield door.  I don't expect that, even four years from now, that anyone will be complaining that Bregman's $25M is blocking anyone good.

[Hitch]

On 1/5/2026 at 8:59 PM, moonslav59 said:

1. Easier said than done on trading Hicks and half his salary. (Same with Yoshida.)

2. We have 4 OF'ers and playing Duran at DH is not getting full value. (He's worth more to another team as an OF'er than to us as a DH.)

That's 2 big reasons why.

Correct. This idea that we can just send these guys away and only eat half if we want to is for the birds. 

I am more than happy our 4 outfielders cycling around the position and DH. 

[Hitch]

On 1/5/2026 at 9:26 PM, drewski6 said:

I dont think the tax line matters as much as some think. Even the 10 draft pick spots isnt much cuz teams are drafting for signability and overslot vs underslot. Its not like baseketball or football where pick 10 vs pick 20 is huge.

It really does matter. 

[Hitch]

15 hours ago, Kimmi said:

Also, please do not sign Bregman for 5 years.

Feels like it's coming. It'll be fine for two but then it'll be another contract weighing down the roster. 

[Hugh2]

14 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Im not sure which thread it is but its buried by now.  BUt we are projected to have one of the very best pitching staffs in the league and one of the very worse offenses. TO imply that pitcher vs bat is preference is just not reality.

We have an excellent pitching staff and bad position players. FUll stop.

I do remember reading teams projected war by Steamer and Boston was towards the top for pitching, but they were not at the bottom for hitting, after adding contreras they are about middle ground.

But you can only project with the guys you have on the roster, the Sox since I read those projections have added Contreras, and if they add Bregman or Bichette they're likely shooting up those rankings into the top ten. 

absence of some very bad luck, one more good signing in the infield should make this a very good team.  Not without flaws, but very good. 

[moonslav59]

10 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

While acknowledging that you are more likely to be correct, $125M/5 is not onerous and is a good fit.  Assuming that KC doesn't return to the IF, and that Arias replaces Story at the end of his contract, we don't really have a lot of options knocking at the infield door.  I don't expect that, even four years from now, that anyone will be complaining that Bregman's $25M is blocking anyone good.

I think he gets $28M+ x 5. If we go to 4 years, it will be $30M+.

[mvp 78]

On 1/6/2026 at 8:01 AM, Hugh2 said:

I'm placing my bets, Bregman will sign today with Boston for 5/$125

[Hugh2]

Full disclosure, I didn't actually bet any money.  I thought I could will something into existence. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

Correct. This idea that we can just send these guys away and only eat half if we want to is for the birds. 

I am more than happy our 4 outfielders cycling around the position and DH. 

While our offense is better with Duran and maybe Anthony DH'ing- and it won't be Abreu & Rafaela- I keep coming back to the idea that Duran is worth way more to another team as an OF'er than to us as a DH. (Hell, Masa might end up with a higher OPS in 2026, but of course way less SBs.)

It's not technically a bad idea benching, demoting or trading Masa and paying 75-85% of his deal, so Duran DHs, it makes more sense, to me, to trade him to a team desperate for an OF'er and whether it takes a third team or whatever, we get back a 3Bman, 2Bman or a #2SP'er. The improvement we make at one of those slots should far exceed the differential between Duran at DH and Masa/Casas/Romy/Campbell at DH for 2026.

Sign one guy and trade for another. That gets us to top 3-4 status, in my mind.

[Bellhorn04]

1 minute ago, Hugh2 said:

Full disclosure, I didn't actually bet any money.  I thought I could will something into existence. 

On Talksox you can predict what you like and be consistently wrong with no consequences! 😀

[moonslav59]

If he signs for $125M/5, then there's a 6th year option for $25M and a $20M buyout. (Essentially making it a $25M x 6 deal of a $29M x 5 year deal.)

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

On Talksox you can predict what you like and be consistently wrong with no consequences! 😀

I guess using the word "bet" was going over the line.

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Full disclosure, I didn't actually bet any money.  I thought I could will something into existence. 

We used to do signature line bets around here. That was serious business!

[Hugh2]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

We used to do signature line bets around here. That was serious business!

I would do signature line bets around here. 

I am a man of your word

[Hitch]

26 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

While our offense is better with Duran and maybe Anthony DH'ing- and it won't be Abreu & Rafaela- I keep coming back to the idea that Duran is worth way more to another team as an OF'er than to us as a DH. (Hell, Masa might end up with a higher OPS in 2026, but of course way less SBs.)

It's not technically a bad idea benching, demoting or trading Masa and paying 75-85% of his deal, so Duran DHs, it makes more sense, to me, to trade him to a team desperate for an OF'er and whether it takes a third team or whatever, we get back a 3Bman, 2Bman or a #2SP'er. The improvement we make at one of those slots should far exceed the differential between Duran at DH and Masa/Casas/Romy/Campbell at DH for 2026.

Sign one guy and trade for another. That gets us to top 3-4 status, in my mind.

It doesn't really matter if he's worth more to another team or not. That team might not want to give up the piece that's more valuable to us. That's the rub.

[moonslav59]

39 minutes ago, Hitch said:

It doesn't really matter if he's worth more to another team or not. That team might not want to give up the piece that's more valuable to us. That's the rub.

Of course that is an issue, but multiple teams need an OF'er like Duran to "get them" to where they want to be. We should be able to include a third team to help us get a piece that offers a bigger gain at a position of need than we lose by having the DH position shared by 4 guys over Duran as the near FT DH.

The foundation is there for a trade that helps 2-3 teams. We may be reluctant to take less in return that what we value Duran at, and that might be what's holding it up, but a trade makes too much sense to not happen.

Perhaps we already have a trade or two agreed upon, but we waiting on some FA shoes to drop, first. We may not want to trade away one of our best offensive players, until we have a good bat FA signed. We may be looking at signing a pitcher, instead, and if that happens, we trade an OF'er for a 3Bman.

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Of course that is an issue, but multiple teams need an OF'er like Duran to "get them" to where they want to be. We should be able to include a third team to help us get a piece that offers a bigger gain at a position of need than we lose by having the DH position shared by 4 guys over Duran as the near FT DH.

The foundation is there for a trade that helps 2-3 teams. We may be reluctant to take less in return that what we value Duran at, and that might be what's holding it up, but a trade makes too much sense to not happen.

Perhaps we already have a trade or two agreed upon, but we waiting on some FA shoes to drop, first. We may not want to trade away one of our best offensive players, until we have a good bat FA signed. We may be looking at signing a pitcher, instead, and if that happens, we trade an OF'er for a 3Bman.

Multiple teams teams need a BUTTERFLY MAN in the OF?🤭

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

On Talksox you can predict what you like and be consistently wrong with no consequences! 😀

And they do over, and over, and over again.

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Multiple teams teams need a BUTTERFLY MAN in the OF?🤭

Certainly two or more. You seriously doubt that?

[moonslav59]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

And they do over, and over, and over again.

You continually confuse suggestions with predictions, no matter how many times we try to tell you there is a difference. I expect you will keep doing this over, and over, and over again.

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Certainly two or more. You seriously doubt that?

I don’t think other teams rate Duran as highly as you do, and not as high as after the 2024 season.