MLB Insider Warns Red Sox Target Alex Bregman About ‘Horrific Idea’

If Alex Bregman wants to get to spring training on time, he’ll have to make a decision in free agency very soon.

Bregman has several possible landing spots available to him, including the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs, but it appears he’s waiting to get the long-term contract he wants. Bregman reportedly rejected a six-year, $156 million contract from the Houston Astros at the start of the offseason and the Red Sox haven’t been willing to give him a deal longer than four years, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.

Perhaps Bregman and agent Scott Boras will pivot with spring training looming and search out a prove-it, one-year deal before dipping their toes back into free agency following that season.

That could work in theory for Bregman, but MLB insider Buster Olney issued a warning on the “Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney” podcast that Bregman should avoid that approach with one team: the Chicago Cubs.

“The idea of him taking a Cody Bellinger contract, with the logic being opt out after the first year, and going and hitting Wrigley Field, thinking he’s going to cash in on one year — I think it’s a horrific idea,” Olney said. “Like, that would be the last of the options that I would look at. If the Cubs are willing to pay him, and give him a Dansby Swanson contract, OK, that’s a little bit different. But to go there and to make a case, have a strategy of going there for one year and going back on the market, no way.”

The reasoning from Olney is sound. Wrigley Field is one of the worst ballparks to hit in for right-handers, according to Baseball Savant. That’s not ideal for Bregman, who is trying to show he can still be a difference-maker in the batter’s box after hitting .260 with 26 home runs and 75 RBIs last season with the Astros.

Meanwhile, Fenway Park is one of the best ballparks for righties, which could make joining the Red Sox more enticing for Bregman. Fenway’s dimensions to left field with its Green Monster 310 feet away measure closely to that of Daikin Park — formerly Minute Maid Park — which is 315 feet to left field thanks to the jutted out Crawford Boxes. That might suggest that Bregman’s production at Fenway could be similar to what he did at Houston’s home ballpark.

Olney certainly believes Bregman should factor that into his much-anticipated decision, but the Red Sox might not be an option for Bregman much longer with Boston reportedly reopening trade talks with the St. Louis Cardinals for Nolan Arenado.