Breslow: 'Disappointing' to see Bregman leave Red Sox
Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acknowledged it won't be easy to fill the void left by Alex Bregman after he signed with the Chicago Cubs in free agency.
"Any time you are active in trying to bring a player in, it's disappointing to lose out," Breslow told MassLive's Chris Cotillo via email Sunday. "We do this job because we are competitive and we want to deliver a championship to our fans, and falling short in a pursuit is an obstacle to that."
Bregman reportedly agreed to a five-year, $175-million contract with the Cubs over the weekend. The contract is said to include $70 million worth of deferrals, as well as a full no-trade clause.
The 31-year-old came to Boston last winter on a three-year, $120-million deal that included two opt-outs. He enjoyed a solid 2025 season, hitting .273/.360/.462 with 18 homers despite a quad strain limiting him to 114 games. The third baseman then opted out to seek a long-term contract.
Bregman also made an impact off the field during his one year in Beantown. The two-time World Series champion emerged as an important veteran leader in a clubhouse that dealt with some turmoil during the season, and he also served as a mentor to many of the team's young stars.
Boston apparently pushed hard to keep Bregman at Fenway Park, tabling a five-year, $165-million offer with deferrals, a source told MassLive's Sean McAdam. However, the Red Sox apparently didn't include a no-trade clause in their offer, and Bregman also took issue with how Boston spread out the deferred payments in its offer, reports McAdam.
Breslow wouldn't go into specifics about the negotiations, only saying that he "respect(s) the right" to free agency that Bregman "earned." The Red Sox are the only team that's yet to sign a big-league free agent this winter.
The executive said he remained optimistic about his team's chances in the hyper-competitive AL East.
"I am not going to gloss over the impact that Alex had on our season. He is a great player with a strong leadership presence in our clubhouse," Breslow said. "But this job requires balancing long- and short-term interests and making the best decisions for the organization, difficult as they be. It means losing out on good players sometimes.
"However, while we will enter the '26 season with different personnel, there will be no less resolve to compete for the division and make a deep postseason run. I believe in the group we have while we keep working to find ways to add to it."
The Red Sox have been linked to Bo Bichette throughout the offseason and now could be in a position to push hard for the two-time All-Star infielder. Some people inside the organization have apparently preferred Bichette to Bregman all along, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.
The Red Sox are also showing interest in veteran third baseman Eugenio Suárez, McCaffrey reports. Suárez is a weak defender but has the type of right-handed power swing that would play well at Fenway Park. It's unclear if the Red Sox and Suárez have had any contract talks.