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After the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on June 15, many discussed the potential shortsightedness of the deal.
But plenty of other reporters and fans saw an Alex Bregman-Red Sox reunion as inevitable after his first season in Boston — he was an excellent role model for their top prospects, he was one of the few veterans in the clubhouse, his swing is built for Fenway Park and he was precisely the upgrade the Red Sox needed on defense. But a reunion would hinge on Boston’s willingness to spend money on a long-term deal for a top free agent, which is nonexistent.
On January 10, Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs, officially leaving the Red Sox without a third baseman. They had one under contract for nine more years when Bregman came to town.
Last offseason, Boston told Devers that it wasn’t courting Nolan Arenado or Bregman to replace him at third base. Manager Alex Cora told reporters that he imagined Bregman as a second baseman, but before the ink was dry on his contract, it was clear he’d be their new everyday man at the hot corner.
Devers didn’t take the news well (who would after being misled about the team’s plans?), and clubhouse issues after the fact led to the trade that sent him across the country. But Bregman’s contract contained opt outs after the first two years, he used one, and now he’s a Cub. The Devers trade has become even more unforgivable than before, and is up there with one of the worst trades in baseball history (not like the Red Sox are unfamiliar with making those).
Red Sox letting Alex Bregman walk after one year adds Rafael Devers trade to the long list of their worst deals ever
Not only was the drama between Devers and the club started by the front office (unless his general unwillingness to do interviews or be a public figure started the fire early in Craig Breslow and John Henry’s eyes), his contract looks like a bargain compared to what top sluggers around the league are making now. Boston reportedly considered signing Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso to add pop to its lineup earlier this offseason — Schwarber will make $30 million and Alonso will make $31 for the next five years, and Bregman will bring home $35 million per year in as much time. Devers will make $28.5 million per year for most of the remaining time on his contract.
The Red Sox had a severe, self-imposed power outage in the second half of the season, which was a main contributor to their early playoff elimination. Not a single Red Sox player hit more than 25 home runs in 2025 (Trevor Story hit exactly 25 and Wilyer Abreu followed close behind with 22) while Devers slugged 35 between his two teams.
Willson Contreras will add some power to the 2026 lineup, but without Bregman, the offense may be even worse than last year’s. Bichette or Suárez would make it better, but with their poor defense, the Red Sox could’ve stuck with Devers and had the same result, and in Bichette’s case, for less money.
For now, the Red Sox remain the only major league team that hasn’t signed a free agent this offseason, and the one that most often stabs its top players in the back. If they hope to compete in the American League East and be taken seriously by the best players on the free agent market, both of those things will have to change immediately.