The grass might be greener on the other side… but
Closing time (or Opening Day in this case) isn’t quite here yet, but it’s getting close. And the Boston Red Sox and Alex Bregman are simply staring at each other from across the room.
Bregman, a two-time All-Star third baseman during his nine-year career with the Houston Astros, has yet to receive the offers he expected in free agency. Boston appears to be his last, best chance to break the $150 million barrier, but the Red Sox appear to be waiting for the price to drop.
What if, in some manner, the Red Sox are actually wanting to lose the Bregman sweepstakes? There’s a free agent hitting the market next winter who might flip all their plans upside-down.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays is one of baseball’s top right-handed hitters, and the Red Sox recognize that right-handed power is their biggest offensive weakness. He’s also a lot younger than Bregman, entering his age-26 season whereas Bregman will play most of the year at 31.
Jordan Llanes of ClutchPoints recently recommended the Red Sox to wait on Bregman in the hopes that Guerrero will instead sign with Boston for the 2026 season.
“This isn’t saying that Bregman would not be a good fit. Guerrero Jr. would just be better,” Llanes wrote. “Vladdy would be coming to a park that he already knows well.”
“He’s already an established star that has taken plenty of criticism. Those experiences should prepare him for what he would face as a home resident of Fenway Park.”
While the Red Sox’s finest sales presentation may not be enough to land Bregman, Guerrero’s free agency will be a completely other story. Sure, Bob Nightengale has reported that the Red Sox are Guerrero’s most likely non-Blue Jays suitor, but who knows what can change in a year?
Spotrac predicts Guerrero will sign a 12-year, $427 million contract next winter, and it’s safe to assume he’ll aim for $500 million first. The Red Sox have never signed a contract within $100 million of the low-end forecast, so they’d be venturing into unknown territory.
And lest we forget, Triston Casas is already at first base for the Red Sox. Even if Guerrero is an upgrade over Casas, it’s certainly no guarantee that a lineup with Guerrero alone is better than one with both Casas and Bregman.
