Have you heard of all talk, no action? That’s exactly what the Boston Red Sox did this time. In earlier years, they were busy with their farm system. But this time there were big talks on being aggressive. No, the fans didn’t speculate on it or see dreams. Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy said there was an extreme urgency within the organization to be aggressive this offseason. Not just that, but also to get back to competing for an AL East title in 2025. And as they went after Juan Soto, and everyone believed them—maybe they were willing to spend big and get key pieces on the roster this time around. But the quest for a certain Alex Bregman is throwing a spanner in the works.

In the end, the Red Sox lost out on Juan Soto to the NY Mets. But in the weeks since, they have added Garrett Crochet in a trade with the White Sox. But then again, in the free-agent market, things have been slow. They spent just $43 million for four pitchers. As of Monday, their payroll is somewhere around $215 million, even less than $226 million from 2024. There goes the statement of being aggressive enough! They still have a hole in the lineup, and right now Bregman is a big name still available in the market. If aggressive is what they are going after, he seems perfect. But they are already backing off, it seems.

The Boston Red Sox have made it clear—they need to add a right-handed power bat. Why the wait though? The spring training is almost here. Third baseman Alex Bregman is on top of their charts and the free-agent market. However, still, apparently, they are not willing to elevate the offer and only are giving Bregman 4 years.

Kennedy didn’t mention specifics but said, “I’m not allowed to talk about any specific free agent negotiations or anything, but given that he’s unsigned, I think that speaks for itself.” He further added, “Definitely don’t think we’re done trying to add to this complement of guys we have. Excited about who we have but also have room to continue to add.” Talks seem to have bottomed out, or wouldn’t there have been a change of offers?

Elsewhere, the Houston Astros seem to be doing everything to pursue an Alex Bregman return. They cleared Ryan Pressly’s salary space and still have the six-year, $156-year offer on the table. So it’s kind of common sense; why would Bregman leave the comfort of Houston to come to Boston? Not just the Houston Astros, but also the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers are active in his pursuit – clearly more than the Red Sox. So if they are serious, acting right now is the right way to go – with yet another team vying for the third baseman.

A surprising new contender comes in strong for Alex Bregman

So the weekend has passed, and still Alex Bregman is unsigned. Right now the usual suspects are, of course, the Astros, the Red Sox, and even the Mets. However, now the Chicago Cubs have entered the fray too! With their recent trade of Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly, the two close friends of Bregman, there is now more fuel in the fire; analysts Robert Flores and Harold Reynolds on the MLB Network have already started picturing Bregman in the Cubs lineup.

“You put Bregman in the middle of this lineup… This gets me excited if I’m a Cubs fan,” said Flores. Just simply thinking about it, a .272 batting average and 191 home runs boosting the Cubs lineup is exciting. And well, with the proven hitters and newcomers, Bregman can very well be the offensive power the Chicago Cubs need as of now. However, no matter where Bregman signs, the reality is he might not get the deal he is after, neither calendar-year-wise nor in dollars!

The market is poor this free agency, so things haven’t been great from the get-go. Above that, the 30-year-old Bregman is not exactly young either. And in the thirties, it’s a known fact that one’s gameplay does go through changes – something that was already noticeable in Bregman’s 2024 season. Right now, according to most, the best thing would be to get a contract with an opt-out. This way he can make his way back to free agency when the market is good.

So what do you think? Will Bregman stay on at Houston, or will he shake things up with a big move?