Red Sox Sign Alex Bregman In Three-Year, $120 Million Deal

The Boston Red Sox signed third baseman Alex Bregman in a three-year, $120 million deal Wednesday. With slugger Rafael Devers already at third for Boston, Bregman will likely move to second base.

Debuting in 2016, Bregman has won two World Series with the Houston Astros, where he has spent his entire career. When the off-season kicked off in November, many speculated that Houston would work hard to re-sign Bregman. Longtime teammate Jose Altuve was publicly adamant about the idea, propagating the theory. 

“We’re not going to be the same organization without him,” Altuve said at the end of the 2024 season. “In my mind, there’s not a chance this is the last one.”

As the months wore on, however, it became more and more apparent that Bregman and his former team landed in different places in negotiations. The two-time All-Star became the subject of increased speculation, with other teams reportedly entering the fray. Boston won out this week.

Based on the way that the Red Sox’s roster is developing, signing Bregman was clearly a matter of capitalizing on value. It wasn’t to fill a roster need, as Devers seems locked in at third while prospect Kristian Campbell is currently ranked the best second baseman in the minor leagues. Bregman’s contract includes deferred payments, which will soften the impact of what would otherwise be a $40 million annual salary.

Last year, the Red Sox missed the playoffs with an 81-81 record. Since winning the World Series in 2018, they have only earned one postseason berth. Sending away players like Mookie Betts and Chris Sale proved to be brutal errors and the team has wallowed in the AL East trying to regather momentum. At age 30, Bregman remains a strong hitter and capable infielder, and could provide a short-term boost to Boston’s lineup over the next few seasons.