With a number of new faces in Boston’s clubhouse, one might have assumed Cora was going to use all of the Red Sox’s time in Fort Myers, Fla., before making any Opening Day lineup decisions. But as the World Series-winning manager revealed Sunday, his plan for the club’s first series in Texas might already be set.
“I have a pretty good idea of what I’m going to do. I’m just not going to share it with you guys,” Cora told reporters, per MLB.com. “But we have to make sure everything happens. It’s too early in spring (to announce anything). It’s March 2. We’ve still got kids getting their first at-bats here. We’ll get there when we get there. Like I said, versatility is huge for me. And athleticism, that’s very important to me, too. We’ve just got to make sure we’re healthy, and we’re getting there.”
Fortunately for Cora, any problems he might have faced in terms of lineup construction were mostly good problems. The Red Sox have a wealth of talent on their roster, which surely will make it a bit tough on Cora to determine who sees playing time regularly — and where.
But as the veteran manager noted, an Opening Day lineup announcement is not imminent. Thus, Red Sox fans will have to remain patient as they wait for the regular season to begin.
The Red Sox And Alex Bregman Pulled Off The Rare Win-Win Contract
On the Athletic’s MLB Roundtable podcast this week, the hosts discussed Alex Bregman signing with the Boston Red Sox. The nature of the $120 million deal – over three years, with opt outs after the first two – gives Bregman flexibility and the ability to control his future.
On the podcast, Andy McCullough said, “with Bregman, if things work out well, it’s like a six-month thing.” To which Grant Brisbee responded, “It’s like a semester abroad when you put it like that.”
And that is what Bregman’s deal potentially is – a potentially six-sojourn – and it is brilliant for both the player and the organization.
The Deal
According to reports, after declaring for free agency, the Astros offered Bregman – who played his entire career to date in Houston – six years and $156 million. The Detroit Tigers did even better, offering six years and $171.5 million, with an opt-out after the second year. The Chicago Cubs came in with an offer of four years and about $120 million, with opt-outs after each of years two and three. And then the Red Sox stepped up with a three-year, $120 million offer, with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons, and Bregman bit.
ESPN’s Buster Olney has repeatedly said that Wrigley Field in Chicago has been a graveyard for right-handed hitters over the past few years, so if Bregman was looking for a place to rebuild his value in the marketplace, Chicago was the wrong choice. Detroit seemed like a perfect fit, with the third baseman potentially being reunited with his former manager from Houston, A.J. Hinch. But for reasons unexplained, that was not the direction Bregman wanted to go.
In Boston, however, Bregman has found a home. In 21 career games there, he has slashed .375/.490/.750, with a 1.240 OPS that is highest for any player with at least 75 plate appearances at the historic ballpark. While Bregman’s on base percentage last season was the second lowest of his career, and the worst since his rookie campaign in 2016, he has a career .366 OBP. Further, while some aver that Bregman had an “off-year” in 2024, with his career low in OPS (.768), he was still 18% above average overall (helped, of course, by his Gold Glove-winning play at third base).
Positional Flexibility
Speaking of third base, that is the elephant in the locker room. At the outset of Spring Training, Boston’s $313 million third baseman, Rafael Devers, stated, unequivocally, that he was a third baseman, and would not play any other position. When asked about that comment, and the fact that when he signed his long-term contract, the front office assured Devers that he would be the club’s third baseman well into the future, manager Alex Cora quipped that that front office person (Chaim Bloom) is currently in St. Louis. Bregman, to his credit, has stated that he will play anywhere, and has taken reps this spring at third, shortstop, and second base – where he will likely remain for this season.
Rafael Devers spoke to reporters during spring training. When asked if he was open to moving to … [+]
Speaking of this season, that is why this contract is such a coup for the player and the team. According to Keith Law of The Athletic, the Red Sox have the second best farm system in baseball (coming in just behind the Seattle Mariners). They have Law’s #1 prospect, outfielder Roman Anthony. However, they also have #9, second baseman/outfielder Kristian Campbell; and #28, shortstop Marcelo Mayer. Not to mention Trevor Story feeling healthy going into the fourth year of his six-year deal to play short; second baseman Vaughn Grissom, the one asset Boston received when they traded Chris Sale to the Braves; and the aforementioned Devers, who doesn’t seem too keen to put down his glove any time soon.
Speaking of designated hitters. The above plan allows the Red Sox to keep Masataka Yoshida in the lineup as the DH for 2025, with the hope that he improves his trade value and/or makes it so the team only needs to eat $37 million of his original $90 million deal if they part ways with him after this season.
So, Bregman gave himself the chance to have a great year and go back on the market. If he then signs a 5/$125 million contract, that, with his 2025 pay, would be about the equivalent of what the Tigers offered him. If does any better than that, he will have improved his lot by taking Boston’s money this year to play second or third. And, if Bregman goes that route, the Red Sox will have used his bat (and glove) to make themselves competitive again in the AL East, and bought themselves another year to fully develop their core of future players. Rarely is a deal that is half as long as the player desired, but requires the team to pay $40 million per year, a win-win, but Alex Bregman’s contract with the Red Sox is just that.
Bravo, Scott Boras and Craig Breslow. Sometimes you do get what you want and what you need.
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