The Boston Red Sox tried, but failed, to bring slugger Alex Bregman back to town.
Bregman signed a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs after just one year in Boston. However, the Red Sox are not just waiting around; they are expected to “aggressively pursue” former Toronto Blue Jays two-time All-Star Bo Bichette in free agency, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
“The Red Sox, who believed their five-year, $165 million offer would lure Bregman back to Boston, now are expected to aggressively pursue Bichette. The Blue Jays remain in the hunt, and the Dodgers continue to hang around.”
The Red Sox signed Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal last offseason, but he opted out after one year to re-enter free agency. They offered him a five-year, $165 million deal this time around, but he chose to go to the Cubs in a stunning twist.
Bichette, meanwhile, is one of the best available players left in free agency, so his offers could start coming in sometime soon.
Bichette met with the Philadelphia Phillies on Zoom on Monday, and now the Red Sox are reportedly trying to make a serious run at the talented shortstop.
The Red Sox reportedly refused to increase their offer to Bregman even though they were told he had a higher offer elsewhere.
It has been a busy offseason for Boston, which landed St. Louis Cardinals teammates Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras in separate trades earlier in the offseason.
Now, the Red Sox seem to be trying to bring Bichette on board and keep him in the American League East, although the Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers are also still linked to the infielder.
