After an entire offseason of speculation that he would return to the Boston Red Sox, Alex Bregman officially found a new home on Saturday night, signing a five-year deal with the Chicago Cubs.

Per Jeff Passan of ESPN on social media: 

Third baseman Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a five-year, $175 million contract, sources tell ESPN. One year after their failed pursuit of Bregman in free agency, the Cubs land one of the biggest bats of the winter.

Reports had circulated recently that the Red Sox had made an "aggressive" offer to Bregman, but clearly, the Cubs came in with something more desirable.

For Boston, it's a giant missed opportunity to bring back a core member of a 2025 team got back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The Red Sox were eliminated by the New York Yankees in the wild card round. 

About Bregman 

Now 31 years old, Bregman is a 10-year veteran of the Houston Astros and Red Sox. A two-time World Series champion, he is also a three-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger winner. He hit .273 for Boston with 18 homers, playing in 114 games. He had signed a three-year deal with Boston last offseason, but opted out this offseason.

Again, the assumption was that he'd return.

Reasons for optimism still 

If you're a distraught Red Sox fan, there is still reason for hope. First, the team has gone out and bolstered the starting rotation by adding Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo this winter. They've also brought in veteran slugger Willson Contreras, which should help the offense. Triston Casas is also working his way back from injury.

Finally, Boston will get a full season of Roman Anthony, one of the top youngsters in the sport. The same is true for Marcelo Mayer, and they'll have the ability to deploy Connelly Early and Payton Tolle in any role that they want on the mound as well.

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Where Boston can go from here

If the Red Sox are still looking to make a move of the magnitude of Bregman, longtime Toronto Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette is still out there. The Red Sox could play him at second base and Mayer at third, or the other way around. 

Beyond that, the Sox have been linked to Brendan Donovan on the trade market. He is expected to be moved by the St. Louis Cardinals, who are run by Chaim Bloom, who used to run the Red Sox front office. 

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