Who’s a viable various to Alex Bregman at third base?
A World Collection champion has been topped, all the choice and opt-out choices have been resolved, and the Scorching Range is formally heating up.
What’s going to the offseason have in retailer for the Crimson Sox? We reply your questions in right this moment’s Crimson Sox mailbag.
What are the worthwhile third base choices if they can’t re-sign Alex Bregman? Marcelo Mayer seemed good filling in whereas Bregman was harm however he’s an damage danger. — @nhlefty on Bluesky
Mayer could be the highest inside candidate. He confirmed he can play the place at a excessive stage defensively however he’s additionally younger and, as you stated, accidents have been a problem for him all through his skilled profession.
If Bregman leaves, there aren’t many apparent alternate options.
When it comes to free brokers, the one different third baseman who would meaningfully transfer the needle is Eugenio Suarez. The 34-year-old hit 49 residence runs with 118 RBI and an .824 OPS this previous season, so he’d assist carry some badly wanted right-handed energy to the lineup, however he’d additionally signify a big downgrade defensively from each Bregman and Mayer.
The commerce market might provide some extra palatable prospects.
Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm is a former No. 3 total decide who’s coming off a good season through which he batted .287 with 11 residence runs and a .741 OPS. He’s additionally projected to earn $10.3 million in his remaining 12 months of arbitration this offseason, and given what number of mouths the Phillies must feed it wouldn’t be a shock to see them transfer on from the 29-year-old.
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung is one other attention-grabbing identify who has been floated as a change of surroundings candidate. Jung is a former high prospect who helped lead the Rangers to the 2023 World Collection title as a rookie, however this previous season he didn’t take the step ahead the membership hoped he would as a 27-year-old in his third MLB season.
After all, the Crimson Sox might at all times give outdated buddy Chaim Bloom a name, because the Cardinals have a number of infielders they may very well be seeking to transfer. Brendan Donovan is considered one of many high infielders probably on the commerce market and would make an excellent addition for the Crimson Sox, however there’s one other identify who will most likely draw loads of dialogue this offseason.
I noticed a report that Nolan Arenado is now keen to waive his no commerce clause. I personally don’t need him however do you assume the Sox entertain these conversations? — Robert D.
One other 12 months, one other offseason of Nolan Arenado hypothesis.
Earlier than we get into the query of whether or not the Crimson Sox would need him, a fast refresher. The Cardinals are getting into a multi-year rebuild and have already begun the method of buying and selling away established veterans in hopes of buying controllable younger expertise. St. Louis has been making an attempt to commerce Arenado as a part of these efforts since final winter, however thus far they haven’t been capable of finding a suitable deal.
A giant purpose for the hold-up is Arenado’s contract, however going ahead that may very well be a lot much less of a problem.
Arenado now has solely two years, $31 million remaining on the eight-year, $260 million deal he initially signed in 2019 whereas nonetheless with the Colorado Rockies. The $16 million he’s due in 2026 will probably be near half of what Bregman is anticipated to earn yearly, so if Bregman leaves Arenado might signify a price-efficient various who may solely value a mid-level prospect or two to amass.
Would that be a path value taking?
On one hand, Arenado is a future Corridor of Famer and one of many biggest defensive third baseman in MLB historical past. Any clubhouse would profit from having a man with that form of pedigree, and buying the 10-time Gold Glove winner would additionally imply reuniting him with Trevor Story, his shut buddy and longtime former teammate in Colorado.
Then again, Arenado just isn’t the participant he as soon as was. The 34-year-old’s OPS has declined in every of the previous three seasons and he’s now coming off the worst offensive season of his profession by a large margin. He batted .237 with 12 residence runs, 52 RBI and a below-average .666 OPS, and his Statcast metrics for each batting and baserunning ranked among the many worst within the league throughout the board. He additionally missed six weeks with a proper shoulder pressure, and his 107 video games performed had been the fewest he’s ever performed in a non-pandemic season.
So again to your query. Would the Crimson Sox entertain these conversations? I feel they might, however provided that they’d already struck out on Plans A, B and C.
Will Breslow be held accountable if neither Bregman nor Rafael Devers are on the roster in 2026 they usually miss the playoffs? — Justin H.
If Bregman just isn’t introduced again and the Crimson Sox miss the playoffs subsequent season, I can’t think about that can go over properly with Breslow’s bosses.
Clearly the specifics might be essential. Do the Crimson Sox miss the playoffs due to poor efficiency at third base, or due to the offense as an entire? Or would it not be on account of a big regression among the many membership’s younger pitchers? The latter wouldn’t have something to do with Bregman however I imagine is each extra probably and would replicate a lot worse on Breslow, since pitching growth is how he made his identify which explains why this 12 months’s membership was capable of get again to the postseason.
Both approach, we’ve got an entire 12 months’s value of baseball to get by way of earlier than we have to concern ourselves with that. What’s the sense in placing Breslow on the new seat due to a bunch of prospects that haven’t occurred?
Who do you assume makes essentially the most sense for the Crimson Sox to focus on as a beginning pitcher commerce goal? So far as profile and value to acquire and such? — Jeffrey M.
Joe Ryan is definitely the identify we’ve heard linked to the Crimson Sox most ceaselessly, and there are many the reason why he would make sense.
The Minnesota Twins are in a full rebuild and by buying and selling Ryan they might doubtlessly restock their minor league system with a wealth of younger expertise. Ryan would even be interesting for the Crimson Sox as a result of he has two years of workforce management remaining, so if the membership had been keen to half with a handful of younger pitchers it’s straightforward to think about a deal getting accomplished.
However what about another prospects?
Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore simply loved a breakout 2025 through which he was named an All-Star for the primary time and struck out 185 batters over 159.2 innings. Like Ryan he additionally has two years of membership management remaining, and new Nationals boss Paul Toboni arguably is aware of the Crimson Sox minor league system higher than anybody from his time as one among Boston’s assistant normal managers.
There’s additionally Pittsburgh Pirates righty Mitch Keller, who doesn’t have the identical upside as Ryan or Gore however has posted three straight seasons with greater than 175 innings and an ERA within the low 4.00 vary.
When it comes to prospect return the Crimson Sox must quit in a possible deal, final winter’s Crochet commerce might be a superb comparability. Crochet additionally had two years of workforce management remaining on the time, and to get him the Crimson Sox gave up 4 prospects, together with their 2023 and 2024 first-round picks.
The membership has extra younger huge league expertise at its disposal than final 12 months together with extra pitching depth, so a possible deal this 12 months might embody a participant from 4 distinct buckets. One, a controllable huge league outfielder like Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu. Two, a younger starter with huge league expertise like Hunter Dobbins, Kyle Harrison, Connelly Early or Payton Tolle. Three, a high-upside pitching prospect like Luis Perales, Brandon Clarke or one of many membership’s high draft picks from final summer season. Final, maybe a Single-A lottery ticket like Juan Valera or Yhoiker Fajardo, each of whom are years from the majors however might assist get a deal over the end line right this moment.
With all of the speak of a lockout getting into the 2027 season, do you assume that can have an effect on the Crimson Sox strategy to free brokers this offseason? — Todd C.
My guess is it received’t have an effect on how the Crimson Sox strategy free company, but it surely may impression how gamers do.
If there’s concern amongst free brokers {that a} lockout may very well be imminent, then there most likely received’t be as a lot of an urge for food for one-year offers. Gamers, particularly veterans like Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso or Lucas Giolito who’ve been free brokers earlier than, are going to need long-term monetary safety and the consolation of realizing they received’t be left homeless within the sport for months on finish whereas gamers and house owners struggle over the following Collective Bargaining Settlement.
Maybe there are some who received’t have a lot of a selection, however for a man like former All-Star Zac Gallen, who’s coming off a tough platform 12 months and whose worth might be additional depressed by a qualifying provide, a high-dollar, one-year prove-it deal just like the one Walker Buehler signed with Boston final offseason could have had some attraction. Now, who is aware of?
So far as the Crimson Sox go, they might want to swim in some deep waters in the event that they hope to make the upgrades that might be essential to go from a Wild Card workforce to a championship contender. Which means huge, long-term offers for premium free brokers, and people guys are going to receives a commission whether or not there’s a lockout subsequent winter or not.
