Purple Sox
Bregman earned two All-Star nods and gained a pair of World Collection titles with the Houston Astros.
Craig Breslow and the Purple Sox have reportedly lastly landed the right-handed slugger they’ve been trying to find.
In keeping with Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Purple Sox have signed veteran infielder Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract — with the deal together with a pair of opt-outs after each the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Wednesday’s information ends a winter rife with experiences and rumors linking the Purple Sox and Bregman — who beforehand spent the primary 9 seasons of his profession with the Houston Astros.
Whereas Boston initially expressed curiosity in Bregman in early December, all events had been reportedly at an deadlock for months — with Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reporting in January that the Purple Sox weren’t prepared to supply Bregman a deal past 4 seasons.
Contemplating that Bregman reportedly had a number of five-year provides on the desk this offseason, his reported take care of Boston appears to be some semblance of a compromise — with Bregman reuniting with Alex Cora in Boston whereas additionally getting a number of alternatives to hit the open market once more if he thrives at Fenway Park.
Cora, who coached Bregman when he served as Houston’s bench coach in 2017, spoke extremely of Bregman all through the offseason.
“Alex is an efficient participant, man. He’s a whole participant,” Cora stated of Bregman on the Winter Conferences. “He’s been on profitable groups his entire profession. Good defender. Offensively, he’s actually good. He’s a man lots of people are speaking about. I do consider he can impression an enormous league crew, a championship-caliber crew. He’s that kind of participant.”
Bregman, who will flip 31 earlier than Opening Day, gained two World Collection over his nine-year tenure in Houston — incomes two All-Star nods and ending second in AL MVP voting throughout the 2019 season.
The veteran ought to add some much-needed pop on the proper facet of the plate for the Purple Sox, who had a emptiness on their roster after Tyler O’Neill left in free company. Bregman is coming off a 2024 season the place he batted .260 with 26 residence runs and 75 RBI over 145 video games.
Bregman did win a Gold Glove at third base this previous season, ending the yr with six defensive runs saved. Nonetheless, it stays to be seen if his arrival would bump Rafael Devers off of third and into extra of a DH function — which is presently occupied by Masataka Yoshida.
Talking earlier this winter, Cora acknowledged that Bregman might transfer over to second base if want be.
“He must be OK,” Cora stated of Bregman shifting off third base. “We really had that dialog [about playing second] in ‘17. We made some changes at third base. The place he was enjoying, he was feeling uncomfortable. On the finish, it paid off for him.
“He’s a Gold Glover defender at third. However I all the time envisioned him enjoying in the midst of the diamond. He can regulate. He has the baseball IQ to do this. Individuals would possibly suppose the double play is perhaps a problem, however I don’t suppose so. I feel he can do no matter.”
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