The Detroit Tigers swung for the fences with Alex Bregman—and whiffed spectacularly. Now, as their offense sputters and bad luck piles on, that $171.5 million rejection feels even more painful. A “freak accident” has only added insult to injury, leaving fans wondering if the baseball gods are playing a cruel joke on Motown.

The offseason is heartbreak after heartbreak for the Detroit Tigers. And this time it is a hit to their offensive lineup. Parker Meadows has been sidelined indefinitely with a nerve issue in his upper right arm. This injury occurred when he threw from the center field in last Saturday’s Spring Training opener, where he felt pain immediately after the throw. Though the pain subsided, he continued to feel numbness in the upper arm and into the top of the forearm and was unable to flex his biceps. This might have cost the Tigers their season. Now, top this off with Matt Vierling’s right rotator cuff muscle strain that has him ruled out for the Opening Day and you have yourself a recipe for disaster for a team that is headed into the Spring Training.

And with this injury, the missed signing of Alex Bregman is looking more and more important. When asked about the injury, Meadows replied, “Just a freak accident.” It looks like he is healing well as he revealed that there is less pain in the arm and the tingling sensation is almost gone. But he will have to wait for the doctors to clear him to play again.

Meadows added, “Basically just have to wait until the nerve wants to wake up. It’s very frustrating, but it’s part of it, and I’m going to stay positive throughout this whole process and take it day-to-day. Could be tomorrow, could be I guess three weeks from now. Really just don’t know, but we have some of the best trainers in the world. I put my trust in them, and they’re going to get me back out there as soon as possible.”

Coming back to the injury, even the 25-year-old’s manager, AJ Hinch said, “We’ve got to get that nerve firing again for him to resume baseball activities. Could be short. Could linger a little bit. No one has a firm timetable.” But he feels that the Tigers have set a perfect timetable for Meadows to recover fully. And the treatment plans are in full effect.

Such an affected roster adds more pressure on the Tigers’ offensive lineup. And one man, Alex Bregman, could have soaked up this pressure. After he rejected the six-year offer of $171.5 million, with $40 million in deferred money and an opt-out clause after the 2026 season from the Tigers, he signed with the Red Sox for a three-year, $120 million contract, which includes $60 million in deferred money and opt-out clauses after the 2025 and 2026 season. And now, the Tigers are left with no one. His batting ability could have impacted the Tigers so much. In 2024, Bregman hit 26 home runs with 75 RBIs. These numbers are very close to what Meadows would have if he had played a full season.

The Tigers bet big and came up empty, and now they’re paying the price. With Meadows sidelined and Bregman thriving elsewhere, Detroit’s offense is running on fumes before the season even starts. If the baseball gods have a sense of humor, they’re clearly laughing at the Tigers right now. After all, that Alex Bregman rejection is bound to sting.

Alex Bregman reveals why he chose the Boston Red Sox over the Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers rolled out the red carpet, stacked the cash, and still got left at the altar. Alex Bregman had a bigger offer on the table, yet he chose Boston—and not just for the clam chowder. While the Tigers desperately needed his bat, Bregman had his own reasons for heading to Fenway. And let’s just say, “winning culture” wasn’t the only factor at play.

Every baseball fan was wondering why Alex Bregman picked the Red Sox even though they had a bigger offer from the Detroit Tigers. And during the introductory press meeting, Alex Bregman revealed the reason.

He said, “My wife is going to love Boston as well. She was super involved in the process, and she is looking forward to starting her first semester at Harvard Executive Business School this year as well.” Other than the winning culture that is high at Boston, this was one of the reasons why Alex Bregman selected the Red Sox.

In the end, it wasn’t just about the money or the so-called “winning culture”—it was about family, future, and, apparently, a Harvard education. The Tigers may have thrown millions at Bregman, but Boston offered something priceless: a happy wife. And as the saying goes, happy wife, happy life… even if it costs Detroit their season.