The Boston Red Sox lost Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs this offseason. After just one season with the team, he opted out of his deal in search of a better offer.
The Red Sox reportedly did not want to include a no-trade clause in Bregman's contract. The Cubs were willing to do so and landed him. With some fans questioning how the Red Sox lost the Bregman sweepstakes, Red Sox president Sam Kennedy recently said, “If Alex Bregman wanted to be here, ultimately, he’d be here."
According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Bregman did not want to get into the exact details of negotiations and did not confirm if a no-trade clause would have gotten a deal done with Boston. He also did not say whether the Red Sox would have won his sweepstakes if they matched the Cubs' offer, saying such conversations were "not worth it."
Bregman was an All-Star with the Red Sox and had one of the best seasons of his career. He was right to hit the open market and find a longer deal that pays him well. While Red Sox fans may be upset he left, he had nothing but nice things to say about his time with the Red Sox.
"I didn’t know, I really didn’t know," Bregman said when asked if he thought he would not return to the Red Sox after the type of year he had. “I obviously loved my time there. Love all of the guys there. Love (Alex Cora). I’ll always cherish it."
Bregman also went on to praise Fenway Park and the Red Sox's fan base. It's clear that he enjoyed Boston and has no negative feelings toward the organization.
“Playing at Fenway is unbelievable," Bregman said, per Nightengale. “The fans in Boston are unbelievable. My teammates were incredible. I’ll be a fan of their for life. I loved playing for AC and the coaching staff there. They mean a lot to me."
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