As the Chicago Cubs remain among the teams interested in free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, each move the Boston Red Sox make will be viewed through the lens of what it might mean for their chances of a reunion with Bregman. It remains to be seen if the Red Sox’s trade for Willson Contreras will impact their efforts with the veteran third baseman, but another trade they make could all but rule them out.
The Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals have already made two trades this offseason, and The Athletic’s (subscription required) Ken Rosenthal reports that a third one might be on the table. Rosenthal reports that the Red Sox and Cardinals have trade talks about a deal that would include St. Louis’ All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan.
Latest Cardinals-Red Sox trade rumors once again have a Cubs’ Alex Bregman impact
Rosenthal stresses that a deal between the two teams is not believed to be close. If one were to be completed, Donovan would take over as Boston’s second baseman. Donovan is expected to earn around $5.4 million next season, so financially, there would still be a scenario where the Red Sox could afford Bregman. Though after adding Contreras and Donovan, Boston may not have the inclination to match Bregman’s asking price.
Other than the Red Sox, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to Bregman. The Diamondbacks’ interest could be a leverage play by Scott Boras, and the Blue Jays may be prioritizing Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette.
There’s no certainty that, at this point, the Cubs are willing to meet Bregman’s asking price. Various reports suggest that he could be looking for a long-term deal approaching $180 million. Given how Chicago has acted in recent years, it would be a safe assumption that they won’t be the team to offer such a deal. But in a scenario where the Red Sox aren’t a suitor and the Blue Jays wind up with Tucker or Bichette, the asking price almost certainly would come down.
The Cubs’ interest in Bregman also remains tied to their plans for the rotation. Unless the Cubs can trade for a cost-controlled starting pitcher, it’s hard to find a scenario where they can afford Bregman. Along those lines, if Tatsuya Imai is the big-ticket item for the Cubs this winter, Bregman likely can be crossed off the team’s shopping list.