Red Sox
“The potential for the Pink Sox buying and selling Alex Bregman is distant.”
Alex Bregman is making his long-awaited return to the Pink Sox lineup towards the Tampa Bay Rays Friday evening.
Boston’s star infielder missed the final 43 video games with a proper quad pressure and has labored tirelessly to get again on the diamond earlier than MLB’s All-Star break.
Nonetheless, during the last couple of weeks throughout Bregman’s restoration, his identify has been floated in commerce rumors. MLB insider Jim Bowden reported that if the Pink Sox and Bregman can’t comply with a contract extension earlier than the commerce deadline (Thursday, July 31), there are a number of suitors, such because the Detroit Tigers, who’re able to make a deal for the participant.
Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, said last month the participant’s facet is open to extension talks. Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million contract with Boston on Feb. 15, which incorporates opt-outs after 2025 and 2026.
Though, WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported Thursday that no such discussions have taken place but.
No matter the place extension conversations stand between the Pink Sox and Bregman, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal threw chilly water on the concept of the Pink Sox dealing Bregman.
“The potential for the Boston Pink Sox buying and selling third baseman Alex Bregman is distant. So distant, you’d sooner see a sure 5-foot-4 reporter in a bow tie dunking on the 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama,” the self-deprecating Rosenthal wrote.
“For the Pink Sox, buying and selling Bregman is unnecessary, even when they can not signal him to an extension earlier than the deadline, even when they stumble whereas going through a tough schedule over the subsequent three weeks,” he added.
Given Boston’s resolution to deal Rafael Devers final month, it looks like something, together with a Bregman commerce, might be on the desk for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow forward of this month’s commerce deadline.
Nonetheless, Rosenthal famous the Devers commerce “might be the largest deal that can go down” in all of baseball this season.
Whereas the Devers commerce got here at a horrible time for the Pink Sox (coming off a sweep of the New York Yankees and getting again above .500), a Bregman commerce would even be robust to swallow. That’s, assuming Bregman returns to his productive self post-quad pressure.
Boston is on a seven-game profitable streak getting into Friday and has sole possession of the American League’s third and closing wild card spot. To not point out, it’s 5 video games again of the Toronto Blue Jays within the American League East.
That being stated, Bregman’s return is coming at a perfect time. Together with his assist, the Pink Sox may achieve vital floor within the division and the playoff race normally by taking, say, three video games out of 4 towards the Rays getting into the All-Star break.
Even when Boston does the alternative and begins to falter, dealing Bregman nonetheless doesn’t make sense. He’s Boston’s de facto clubhouse chief, and he’ll definitely be the chief within the lineup starting this weekend and thru the remainder of the season.
All through Bregman’s restoration, he has visibly been a central a part of the Pink Sox’ dugout throughout video games. He has been seen alongside Garrett Crochet cheering on the group, in addition to seemingly teaching up gamers like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer after at-bats.
Boston has exceeded expectations post-Devers. Nonetheless, it could be onerous to think about related outcomes if Bregman have been to be traded.
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