Alex Bregman finally has a new home! For months, there was speculation about where the third baseman would land. The top three teams included former club Houston Astros, the Detroit Tigers, and of course, Boston. But money wasn’t his only demand!
Given his age, none of the teams were up for offering him the security of a longer tenure. Then why did the 30-year-old choose the Red Sox? Because while Boston signed Alex Bregman on a three-year, $120 million deal with two opt-outs, there was another team ready to offer him six years.
Alex Bregman reveals why he chose the Red Sox
The Detroit Tigers had made Alex Bregman an offer before Boston came in and snagged him. It was a $171.5 million six-year contract. Of course, if Bregman had accepted it, he would have gotten less AAV than what he is getting from the Red Sox.
Then what else could the reason be other than money, right? According to the introductory press conference video uploaded by the Red Sox, Bregman sees a winning team in Boston.
“When Scott (Boras) and I started out and started talking about places we may want to go, winning was the most important. So, when they showed their vision on how this organization was going to win now and in the future, that was pretty cool,” Alex Bregman pointed out why he chose the Red Sox.
So it seems like Detroit lacked the winning mentality that the two-time All-Star wanted to see in his future team, among other things.
What did Detroit lack in their offer?
The Tigers threw down $28.58 million per year for six seasons, while the Red Sox sweetened the deal with $40 million per season for just three years. Reflecting on the most appropriate choice for Bregman, Boston indeed looks like the part. Heavy bucks pour in with the option to hit the free market after a single season. For the Red Sox, it’s a huge win securing the New Mexico native.
The road ahead, however, is very different for the Tigers.
They will now count on Matt Vierling and Jace Jung to help pick things up at third. Vierling, 28, has seen 443 games in his career and is, by and large, a right-handed hitter. Jung, the 24-year-old prospect, has a lot of offensive potential but needs to sharpen his defense. It’s a bit of a gamble, but hey, sometimes that’s how you find hidden gems.
With spring training breathing down the neck and Bregman heading to Boston with a fat contract and a clear path to more riches, the Tigers are left to hope Vierling and Jung can fill some pretty big shoes.
Do you think they will be able to? Comment your thoughts here!
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