Alex Bregman won’t be running it back with Boston after all.
The All-Star third baseman has agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
In November, Bregman opted out of the final two seasons of the three-year, $120 million deal he signed with the Red Sox last winter.
Losing Bregman is a significant blow to an already underwhelming Red Sox lineup. The 31-year-old started last season at an MVP level before a quad injury forced him to miss time. Still, he earned his third career All-Star nod and finished the year with strong numbers, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 homers and 62 RBI in 114 games. He was a major defensive upgrade at the hot corner and an invaluable veteran presence in Boston’s clubhouse.
With Bregman officially gone, the Red Sox must quickly come up with a backup plan to address the question marks in their infield and the middle of their lineup. Bo Bichette and Eugenio Suarez are the next best infield bats on the free-agent market while Isaac Paredes (Houston Astros) and Brendan Donovan (St. Louis Cardinals) stand out as potential trade targets.
If the Red Sox fail to find a replacement for Bregman at the hot corner, there aren’t many internal options. Marcelo Mayer would be the most likely candidate to step up, with Nate Eaton and Nick Sogard also able to fill in at the position if called upon.
