Rather than chase an elite bat, Boston may add frontline pitching and a cheaper infield option.
The Red Sox didn’t just lose Alex Bregman on Saturday night.
They lost the cleanest version of their offseason plan.
When Bregman took a five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs - fully guaranteed, no opt-outs - it ended a pursuit Boston treated seriously but cautiously. With new details emerging Sunday, it became clear how close Boston was willing to go, and just as clear where they drew the line. Their final offer was reportedly in the low-$160 million range. Chicago exceeded it.
Boston didn’t.
Now comes the harder part:
Deciding what the pivot actually looks like.
For weeks, Bregman represented clarity. He fit the roster, timeline, and clubhouse. Losing him doesn't just remove a third baseman, it reintroduces infield uncertainty and forces the front office to choose between competing philosophies it’s been straddling all winter.
Bo Bichette remains the obvious alternative, and USA Today's Bob Nightengale quickly linked Boston to him after Bregman joined Chicago. The appeal is clear. Bichette is a premium, in-prime bat and arguably the best pure hitter left. But the complications remain. He wants a deal above $300 million, has only played shortstop in MLB, and would force the Red Sox to let positional dominoes fall as they may.
That’s a far messier bet than Bregman ever was.
And it’s why another idea - less exciting, more frustrating, but very on brand - has started to creep into the conversation.
My friend and colleague Rob Bradford of WEEI floated it bluntly:
What if the Red Sox don’t replace Bregman with an elite bat at all?
What if they double down on run prevention?
Here's what he wrote on X:
"One pivot to keep an eye on with the Red Sox is re-engaging with higher-end pitching while also acquiring a lower-tier bat than Bregman/Bichette. In other words, double down on run prevention."
Jul 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (2) hits a three run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. (Matt Marton/Imagn Images)MORE RED SOX STORIES:
Boston has already invested in its rotation this winter, adding Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo to stabilize a staff that struggled late last season. Frontline arms are still available, and names like Ranger Suárez, Framber Valdez, and Zac Gallen remain possible if the Red Sox decide their edge is pitching depth over lineup star power.
It wouldn’t be flashy. It wouldn’t satisfy a fan base that spent months tracking Bregman’s every move. But it would be consistent with how Craig Breslow has talked about building a sustainable contender. It’s a team less reliant on perfect offensive nights and more capable of suffocating opponents over a long season.
That approach likely comes paired with a quieter offensive addition.
Someone like Eugenio Suárez fits that mold. He’s not Bregman or Bichette, but he’s coming off a strong season, brings real power, and wouldn’t require financial or positional maneuvering. Slot him into the infield, bolster the rotation, and the Red Sox look less like star-chasers and more like a team winning on margins.
The question, of course, is appetite.
Boston didn’t lose Bregman for lack of effort. It lost him by sticking to its valuation for the sake of certainty. That restraint now defines its crossroads. All-in on Bichette means embracing uncertainty - about fit, development, and where Marcelo Mayer or Kristian Campbell ultimately land. Focusing on pitching and a lower-tier bat avoids that chaos but sacrifices ceiling and swagger.
Both paths have imperfections:
One chases upside and risk, the other prizes security and limits. Bregman uniquely straddled both. Neither solution fully captures his balance.
What’s clear is the Red Sox can’t wait for the board to come to them. The board has changed.
The easy option is gone. Every remaining move signals who they believe they are right now.
Do they lean into flexibility and trust the roster to sort itself out around elite upside talent?
Or do they tighten the margins, bet on arms, and accept that this version of the lineup may be more workmanlike than feared?
Saturday night didn’t just end a pursuit.
It forced a decision.
Sep 7, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) motions for a new ball during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.