It’s been 4 years for the reason that Boston Pink Sox made the playoffs.
It’s been seven since they’ve received the American League East.
They traded away Mookie Betts and Chris Sale and let Xander Boegarts depart in free company.
However there’s little doubt they’re going for it now.
Late Wednesday, the Pink Sox agreed to phrases with star infielder Alex Bregman, placing an exclamation level on a superb offseason.
It’s a three-year, $120 million contract with deferred cash and with opt-outs after each season, based on ESPN. With the deferrals, the present-day worth of the deal is reportedly round $90 million over three years.
The settlement ended a protracted flirtation between the Pink Sox and Bregman, who is anticipated to maneuver to second base after spending his first 9 MLB seasons as a 3rd baseman for the Houston Astros.
Houston reportedly provided Bregman a six-year, $156 million contract, whereas the Detroit Tigers made him a six-year, $171 million supply.
However the Pink Sox, and their considerably greater annual wage, received ultimately, including MLB’s greatest remaining free agent proper earlier than the beginning of spring coaching.
Bregman, who turns 31 subsequent month, offers a pull-heavy right-handed bat that ought to play nicely at Fenway Park, the place the Inexperienced Monster is just 310 toes down the left-field line.
His proper handedness helps stability out a Pink Sox lineup largely headlined by left-handed hitters, together with Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida.
Bregman received a Gold Glove final yr, however the Pink Sox are set on the corners with Devers at third base and Casas at first.
The Pink Sox are taking a bet, contemplating Bregman delivered a career-worst .768 OPS with 26 dwelling runs and 75 RBI final season.
These sub-par statistics may be attributed partly to an ice-cold begin by which Bregman batted .201 with one dwelling run and a .534 OPS by means of his first 37 video games. He hit .279 with an .846 OPS the remainder of the way in which.
His season-long common exit velocity of 89.1 mph ranked simply above league common and was really a tick higher than it was in 2023. His squared-up share of 33.8% and strikeout of 13.6% fee remained elite.
Bregman has not been an All-Star since 2019, when he recorded 41 dwelling runs, 112 RBI and a 1.015 OPS and completed second in AL MVP voting.
However he’s nonetheless an excellent participant, and he makes the Pink Sox higher in 2025. The deal being solely three years, even at huge cash, helps mitigate a number of the danger.
The Yankees, who’ve uncertainty at third base, spoke with agent Scott Boras about Bregman this offseason however have been by no means thought of a serious participant for his companies.
“He’s been a thorn in our side for years, along with other people’s sides,” Yankees normal supervisor Brian Cashman stated of Bregman in December. “He’s now into free agency. I’m sure he’s got a boatload of choices. Really good players like him make a lot of money.”
Bregman received World Sequence with Houston in 2017 and 2022, although the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal hangs over the primary of these championships.
The Astros have received the American League West 4 seasons in a row however look totally different this yr with the departure of Bregman; their buying and selling away of Kyle Tucker; and their additions of first baseman Christian Walker and third baseman Isaac Paredes.
The Pink Sox went 81-81 final season and completed in third within the AL East however have since remodeled their roster.
They swung a blockbuster commerce to accumulate burgeoning ace Garrett Crochet, who struck out 209 batters in 146 innings final season with the Chicago White Sox.
The Pink Sox additionally signed right-handed starter Walker Buehler, who struggled final season in his return from a second Tommy John surgical procedure however returned to kind throughout the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Sequence run.
Boston expects to get again right-handed starter Lucas Giolito, who missed final season after present process elbow surgical procedure, and signed left-handed relievers Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson in free company.
The Pink Sox have three main prospects in Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer all nearing their debuts.
Earlier than the Bregman settlement, FanGraphs’ projections gave the Pink Sox a 51.0% probability of creating the playoffs. Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA mannequin was much more pessimistic, giving Boston a 13.7% probability.
The Yankees and Baltimore Orioles stay the favorites within the AL East, however Boston now seems significantly better geared up to compete.
