Red Sox rumors: Insider says Boston, Alex Bregman remain perfect fit
After years of underachievement, the Boston Red Sox are finally back in the playoff hunt. Currently possessing the second AL Wild Card spot, if the season ended today, the Red Sox would play their hated rivals from the Bronx, the New York Yankees. Although Boston has lost their last two games, a three-game winning streak preceded it. Third baseman Alex Bregman’s first season with the Sox has been a strong one thus far. The former Houston Astro could opt out of his current contract this winter. MLB Network spoke with insider Jon Heyman on Bregman’s best potential fit in free agency, and shared Heyman’s take on X, formerly Twitter.
“What could Alex Bregman’s potential free agency look like?” posted the league network on Saturday. “‘I think he fits Boston perfectly… it does feel like Boston is the best fit.’- @JonHeyman.”
It’s easy to see why Heyman said the Red Sox would be Bregman’s best fit. The 31-year-old is nearing the tail end of his physical prime. However, his skillset is one that should age well, particularly at Fenway Park. After the trade of former franchise star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in June, Bregman has once again become a clubhouse leader, like he was in Houston. Can Scott Boras, the third baseman’s agent, work out a deal with the Boston front office to avoid an opt out this winter? Or will Bregman once again explore free agency?
Can Red Sox hammer out new deal with Alex Bregman, Scott Boras?
Boras is notorious for letting his clients explore free agency rather than sign an extension. The majority of the time, that is the tactic that baseball’s super-agent likes to take. Even though Bregman will turn 32 in March, there are still plenty of teams that would pursue him on the open market. The Yankees would certainly be one, as the trade acquisition of Ryan McMahon before the deadline hasn’t worked out as well as New York would have liked.
Whether it’s the Red Sox, Yankees or another team, the likelihood of Bregman not going to a contender is slim. Based on his age, it feels like a resigning, especially if both sides can strike an agreement before the opt out. For now though, the focus is on Bregman helping lead Boston back to the postseason. Will the Red Sox finish the deal and clinch October baseball in the coming weeks? If so, don’t be surprised to see the third baseman remain at Fenway Park past this season.
Blue Jays Latest Addition Could Leave for Dodgers, Per MLB Insider
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins could seek some lineup help at the trade deadline in Jazz Chisholm Jr.
It was no surprise that the Toronto Blue Jays decided to take a chance on right-hander Shane Bieber. When Bieber has been at his best throughout his career, he’s been one of the better starters in Major League Baseball. He had a rough outing in his last appearance for the Blue Jays, but it was just his third start of the year in the show.
Nonetheless, he allowed five earned runs in 6.0 innings, striking out six. Bieber now has a 4.15 ERA in just 17.1 innings.
There might not be a player who has a more questionable free agency than the former Cy Young Award winner. Many believe that Bieber is one of the top arms in baseball when healthy, but that’s the problem. Over the past two years, he’s appeared in just five games between the Cleveland Guardians and Blue Jays. Typically, that doesn’t end well for players looking to get paid.
Despite that, Jon Heyman of the New York Post believes the Blue Jays could lose him in free agency, not even naming them as one of the landing spots for the veteran. He noted, however, that the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers could be potential fits.
“He’s off to a big start as deadline pickup. Red Sox, Angels, Dodgers,” Heyman wrote.
Shane Bieber Benefits From Trade to Blue Jays
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, getting traded to the Toronto Blue Jays actually worked out in Bieber’s favor for a few different reasons. Not only does he have an opportunity to opt out of his deal, but he can’t be offered the qualifying offer now.
“Shane Bieber, Blue Jays, right-handed starter: Being traded to Toronto allowed Bieber a hall pass from the qualifying offer, which is enough to take his $4 million buyout and turn down a $16 million option — provided he remains healthy for the rest of the season,” he wrote.
The Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to prove over the past few years that they’re willing to spend with the best of them.
Will the Blue Jays Pay Shane Bieber?
If the Toronto Blue Jays don’t want to keep Bieber around or give him the money he’s looking for, there isn’t much of a debate that either team wouldn’t give him what he’s looking for.
While the Dodgers have spent more than the Red Sox, Robert Murray of FanSided spoke about the situation recently regarding Boston. He noted that he continues to hear that there’s some rumbling going on for Bieber to land with the Red Sox in free agency.
“(Bieber) is one name that I’m keeping my eye with Boston, and this is me connecting dots, but in the offseason, they were very much in the Shane Bieber market,” Murray said on “The Baseball Insiders.” “Bieber would make a tremendous amount of sense there. I’ve said that at one point I thought he was going to Boston, and I’m pretty sure he thought he was going to Boston, too.”
The Red Sox did something similar last offseason by acquiring Walker Buehler.
However, while Buehler has had similar injury issues, Bieber has been better when he’s healthy.
Hopefully, if the Red Sox land him, that’d be the case.
