The Boston Red Sox had their eyes on Alex Bregman this offseason. But in a twist that caught their front office off guard, it was the Chicago Cubs who landed the All-Star third baseman.
The Red Sox, led by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, didn’t fully buy into agent Scott Boras’ message that the Cubs were serious contenders for Bregman. They hesitated, didn’t want to bid against themselves - and by the time they realized the Cubs weren’t bluffing, Bregman was already headed to Wrigleyville.
Since then, Boston’s been playing catch-up.
Their search for a Bregman replacement hasn’t been smooth. Trade talks for Arizona’s Ketel Marte and St.
Louis’ Brendan Donovan fizzled out. Marte was pulled off the market by the Diamondbacks, while Donovan ended up heading to Seattle in a deal with the Mariners.
Boston also explored other options, including a potential deal with the Cubs for Matt Shaw - a move that would’ve added a promising young infielder to the mix. That didn’t materialize either. More recently, the Red Sox have been in discussions with the Houston Astros about Isaac Paredes, another potential target to bolster the infield.
But after weeks of uncertainty, Boston finally made a move - though it’s not the blockbuster fans were hoping for. The Red Sox have signed Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year, $6 million deal. He’s a versatile infielder with a strong glove, but let’s be honest: this isn’t a move that’s going to make waves across the American League.
Kiner-Falefa, 30, is known for his defense and ability to play multiple positions, but he’s never been much of a threat at the plate. In eight MLB seasons, he’s never posted a wRC+ over 100 - the league average - and only twice has he even cracked the 90 mark. That’s not the kind of offensive profile you typically look for in a Bregman replacement.
This signing reflects a shift in Boston’s offseason approach. After missing out on Bregman, the Red Sox appear to be leaning into a run-prevention strategy - emphasizing pitching and defense over power bats.
That’s a formula that’s worked in spurts for other teams, including the Cubs in recent years, but it also comes with a ceiling. And that’s exactly why Chicago decided to break out of that mold and go big for Bregman in the first place.
For Boston, the Kiner-Falefa deal feels more like a stopgap than a solution. It fills a roster hole, sure.
But it doesn’t address the bigger question: where’s the impact bat this team still desperately needs? Until that answer comes, Red Sox fans will be left wondering whether this offseason was more about settling than solving.