Red Sox Rumors: This Star Could Be ‘Priority’ After Missing Juan Soto
The Juan Soto chase came to an unfortunate end for the Red Sox on Sunday night, but that should signal the beginning of new pursuits.
According to Audacy’s Rob Bradford, the Red Sox are expected to pivot after missing out on Soto, and superstar Alex Bregman could be on their revised holiday wish list.
“Per source, one of the players the Red Sox might immediately be prioritizing is Alex Bregman,” Bradford wrote for WEEI.
Bregman, as Bradford noted, makes sense for the Red Sox in one major regard: He can rake from the right side of the plate, which is something the left-handed-heavy Sox could really use. Of course, they would have been willing to lean in even further into the left side to sign a generational talent like Soto, but now that he’s headed to the Mets, resetting and prioritizing the right side does make sense.
Few are as solid from the right side as Bregman has been throughout his career. The 2019 American League MVP runner-up had at least 23 home runs in his last three seasons, hitting .260 with 26 dingers and 75 RBIs last season for the Houston Astros. Perhaps a move to Fenway Park could help him get back to his peak levels of production; over the course of 2018 and 2019, Bregman averaged 36 home runs and 44 doubles, posting a .970 OPS and leading the league in walks in the second of those two seasons.
Signing Bregman would create an interesting dilemma. In Rafael Devers, the Red Sox already have a star third baseman who is signed for the long term. However, Bregman is coming off a Gold Glove performance at the hot corner, and signing him would trigger some sort of chain reaction that would lead to a shakeup in the Boston batting order and defensive alignment.
One option, as Bradford notes, is Bregman could play second base, a move he’s reportedly open to after playing third base and shortstop in Houston. That would give Boston a formidable infield of Devers, Trevor Story, Bregman and Triston Casas from left to right.
It won’t be easy or cheap, though. The Yankees, who are reeling after losing Soto, are also expected to be in the Bregman mix.