Alex Bregman has made his free agency choice, and isn’t Boston.
The veteran third baseman is in agreement with the Chicago Cubs on a five-year, $175 million deal, ESPN’s Jeff Passan and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported just after 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday night.
The news comes hours after the Red Sox wrapped up a Fenway Fest full of players stating they hoped Bregman would return.
The Red Sox signed Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract last February, but the opt-outs after the first and second seasons effectively rendered it a one-year deal.
Bregman batted .273 with a .821 OPS and earned his third career All-Star selection during his lone season in Boston last year. He struggled upon returning from a late-May quad injury, prior to which he was batting .299, but helped the Red Sox returned to the postseason for the first time since 2021.
The Cubs, who were in hot pursuit of Bregman last offseason, are giving him a full no-trade clause. There are no opt-outs, reports MLB’s Mark Feinsand.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, have suffered a catastrophic blow. Bregman was their preferred free agent from the start. With him off the table, Boston has lost a star defender, hitter, clubhouse leader and invaluable mentor for their young core.
