Boston Red Sox
“I just really don’t want to get into it. It’s not worth it.”
Sam Kennedy told reporters earlier this week that if Alex Bregman wanted to be a Red Sox this season, he would have been. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman isn’t interested in discussing why he didn’t re-sign with the Red Sox this winter.
Red Sox president Sam Kennedy recently spoke about the organization’s failure to retain the 31-year-old in free agency earlier this year. Kennedy implied that Bregman chose to leave Boston when speaking with reporters in Florida this week.
“If Alex Bregman wanted to be here, ultimately he’d be here,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy’s decision to publicly offer Boston’s perspective on the Bregman front, over one month after Bregman signed a contract with the Cubs, drew plenty of online attention. Fans have offered their opinions and then some since Kennedy spoke, but Bregman said he doesn’t want to offer a rebuttal.
“I just really don’t want to get into it,’’ Bregman told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale when asked if he would have stayed with the Red Sox if the organization matched the Cubs’ offer. “It’s not worth it.”
Bregman received a no-trade clause from Chicago, something Boston left out of their offer. Having that no-trade protection was important to Bregman, so he left the Red Sox after one season.
However, Bregman said his decision to sign with the Cubs didn’t solely have to do with the fact that they gave him the no-trade clause. He declined to go into detail.
“It was more than just that,” Bregman said.
In September last year, Kennedy confidently told WEEI that both Boston and Bregman wanted to remain together in 2026. He had a much different tune five months ago compared to the present day.
“That’ll all take care of itself,” Kennedy said. “He wants to be here, we want him to be here, and I’ll leave it at that.”
The Red Sox reportedly believed Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, were bluffing when the camp told Boston they had a better offer than the one they provided this winter.
“The Red Sox were confident they had the highest bid, and thought they’d (be) bidding against themselves,” Nightingale wrote. “So, basically, it was (a) take-it-or-leave-it offer.
“Bregman left it.”
Despite Kennedy’s comments from September about Bregman wanting to stay a Red Sox, Bregman said he actually wasn’t so sure.
“I didn’t know, I really didn’t know,” Bregman said. “I obviously loved my time there. Love all of the guys there. Love AC [manager Alex Cora]. I’ll always cherish it.”
A right quad strain Bregman suffered in May sidelined him until just before MLB’s All-Star break, but the 3B was an extremely important part of the 2025 Red Sox’ story.
On the field, he batted .273 with an .822 OPS, 18 home runs (team’s third-most), and 62 RBI. Bregman drew 51 walks and committed nine errors at third (.969 fielding percentage). It would be difficult for most players to fill former face of the franchise Rafael Devers’s shoes in the starting lineup and positionally, but Bregman did that when healthy.
Off the field, Bregman took it upon himself to essentially coach young players like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer. His veteran status, history of winning, and leadership qualities made him interested in getting the most out of Boston’s young core during his brief tenure.
“He’s like a coach, really,” Mayer told The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey last July. “I can’t really say enough of how much he’s helped not only me and Roman, but the whole team. He has people coming in early and watching film, whether that’s me, [Jarren] Duran or whoever it may be. And I think he just sees the game at a super advanced level compared to most people.”
At the time, Anthony said he appreciated Bregman’s help, though it wasn’t necessary.
“He doesn’t have to go out and help Marcelo and me, but he goes out of his way to do it, and that’s why he’s a winner,” Anthony said.
McCaffrey also noted that Bregman didn’t just aid rookies, but also veterans like himself. Trevor Story also identified times when Bregman gave his perspective on Story’s hitting approach.
Bregman is on to Chicago, though. The Cubs boast a talented, young squad, too, and Bregman said he’s excited to play with them.
But, there are no hard feelings on Bregman’s end when it comes to the Red Sox.
“Playing at Fenway is unbelievable,” Bregman says. “The fans in Boston are unbelievable. My teammates were incredible. I’ll be a fan of theirs for life. I loved playing for AC and the coaching staff there. They mean a lot to me.”
Kaley Brown
Kaley Brown is a sports producer for Boston.com, where she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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