.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
The Boston Red Sox added a lot this winter, acquiring a slew of former All-Stars in Ranger Suarez, Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray. They also lost a lot too, however, starting with All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.
Bregman bolted in free agency after just one season with the Red Sox, taking a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs in January. His departure was a stunning gut-punch for Boston, which had been considered the favorite to re-sign him all offseason.
Bregman's exit was even tougher for the Red Sox to swallow given that they'd already traded their franchise third baseman, Rafael Devers, last summer, leaving them without an obvious internal replacement. They managed to swing a last-minute trade for Caleb Durbin, who's coming off a strong rookie season with the Milwaukee Brewers.
While both players posted similar WAR totals last season, Bregman's leadership, presence and positive impact on Boston's young clubhouse can't be easily replaced.
In The Athletic's poll of 36 MLB executives, former executives, managers, coaches and scouts, Bregman received the most votes for "most irreplaceable subtraction" this offseason with 11, one more than former New York Mets star Pete Alonso.
"He’s more than just a baseball player. He’s the most magnetic personality in every clubhouse he enters," Jayson Stark wrote. "So you can replace his at-bats. You can stick someone else at third base. You can divvy up his money. But, as our voters clearly conveyed, when it comes to all the other stuff, you can’t replace that."
Bregman's special combination of elite offense, Gold Glove-caliber defense and veteran leadership will be missed. Just ask the Houston Astros, who missed the playoffs last year in their first season without him.
The Red Sox are hopeful that some of their new veterans and other players can step up and fill the leadership void in Bregman's absence, but it won't be easy.
More MLB: Red Sox Analyst Explains Why Team Put An Emphasis On Defense This Offseason
English (US)