The Red Sox entered this offseason with one clear goal: lock down Alex Bregman for the long haul. That mission officially failed on January 10, when Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs-closing the door on what turned out to be a one-year stint in Boston.
From the outside, it looked like the Sox were in the driver's seat. They cleared payroll by sending their previous third baseman to San Francisco, creating both the financial and positional room to bring Bregman back.
But when it came time to finalize a deal, Boston blinked. Reports suggest the front office didn’t believe Bregman’s camp when they returned with word of a better offer.
And even though Bregman reportedly wanted to stay, the Sox weren’t willing to give him what he asked for-most notably, a no-trade clause.
The financials tell part of the story. The Cubs’ deal is worth $175 million, with $70 million of that deferred.
That kind of structure can be appealing to both sides: it lowers the present-day payroll hit while still delivering long-term value to the player. If Boston’s proposal lacked similar flexibility-or if they weren’t willing to match the no-trade clause-it’s not hard to see why Bregman chose Chicago.
And that’s where the frustration sets in for Red Sox fans. The team talked like it was ready to compete, like it was serious about building a contender.
But when the opportunity came to make a franchise-level commitment to a proven star, they hesitated. Bregman is gone, and now the Sox are left with a hole at third base and more questions than answers.
Internally, there are some stopgap solutions. Marcelo Mayer, the highly touted shortstop prospect, saw time at third last season and could be asked to take on that role permanently.
But that opens up a new problem at second base-a position that was already a revolving door in 2025 thanks to injuries and inconsistent play. After Kristian Campbell was demoted, the Sox cycled through options, none of which stuck.
One idea reportedly being floated is moving Ceddanne Rafaela to second base. On paper, it might make some sense.
Rafaela has logged 38 career games at second, including 24 last season. He’s athletic, versatile, and has the instincts to handle the infield.
But here’s the problem: he’s also one of the best defensive center fielders in the game. Taking him out of that role would be a massive step backward for a team that already struggles to prevent runs.
Rafaela’s glove in center is elite-Gold Glove caliber, game-changing, and arguably irreplaceable. Shifting him to the infield just to patch a hole created by a failed free agent pursuit would be a misuse of talent that Boston simply can’t afford.
It’s not just about where he can play-it’s about where he should play to maximize his value. And right now, that's patrolling center field, not covering second base.
The issue runs deeper than just one player or one missed signing. The AL East is getting tougher by the year.
Toronto, once stuck in neutral during free agency, has flipped the script. They extended Vladimir Guerrero Jr., added key pieces, and made a run to the World Series.
They’re not just in the mix for big names like Kyle Tucker-they’re actually closing deals. Their window is wide open.
Meanwhile, Boston’s feels like it’s stuck halfway open, with the front office unsure whether to push or pull. If the Red Sox want to avoid falling further behind in a division that’s only getting stronger, they need to start acting like a team that wants to win now. That means investing in proven talent, not asking elite defenders to plug holes they weren’t meant to fill.
Rafaela deserves to stay in center field. The fans deserve a front office that backs up its words with action.
And the Red Sox? They deserve better than watching another offseason priority slip through their fingers.