Finally, the wait is over. Just as Spring Training began, Alex Bregman finally had a team: It was the Boston Red Sox, with whom he agreed to a three-year, $120 million contract late at night. Bregman is the last big name to leave the free agency board, and this of course ends his tenure with the Astros, with whom he won two World Series. This is big news, potentially Hot Stove’s last real big news barring a big deal and there are all sorts of implications in this deal. The Red Sox are serious players in the AL East
Boston fans have been waiting a long time for a big move that could bring the Red Sox back to feeling like, you know, the Red Sox. While the team’s pursuit of Juan Soto didn’t bear fruit, it did manage a Winter Meetings trade with the White Sox for a potential ace in Garrett Crochet. And now Bregman appears. This might not necessarily be that move those opt-outs could make this a very short tenure in Boston indeed but it would certainly raise the stakes for 2025. Bregman is certainly the right-handed hitter the Sox desperately need to balance out their left-handed lineup, and he’s known for his great hitting at Fenway Park, with a career batting average.

Alex Bregman Boston Slugger Swing Premium SS T-Shirt

The Red Sox will look much better in 2025. Their fans have wanted to be able to say that for a long time. Cubs fans were excited, and with good reason, when the team traded Kyle Tucker in December. It was the kind of move a team that wants to win the World Series right now would make; after all, Tucker is likely to be a one-year rental before he becomes a free agent. But since then, the Cubs haven’t added like you’d expect the team to go all out. Yes, they brought in a shortstop in Ryan Pressley and a utility option in Jon Berti, but they also traded Cody Bellinger for a soft return. The idea that they could reunite Bregman with Tucker and Pressley is an interesting one, and one that would solidify their status as the NL Central’s favorites. They may still be the team most likely to win the tournament, but they don’t give themselves much room to make mistakes. The 2025 Cubs are currently relying heavily on rookie Matt Shaw at third, and their offense appears to be one (or even two) short. They can still win the NL Central.