Red Sox Reportedly Have This Defensive Plan For Alex Bregman

The Boston Red Sox made a major splash late Wednesday night by reportedly signing Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal.

But there’s a big-time question that remains with Bregman on his way to joining the Red Sox. Where will Bregman play on the diamond with Rafael Devers already at third base?

Well, an answer to that potential issue has already come to the surface, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

“The expectation is Alex Bregman will play second base for Boston, sources tell ESPN,” Passan wrote on the X platform. “Even though the Red Sox have top prospect Kristian Campbell coming, they saw Bregman having enough of an impact that they offered $40 million a year — with deferrals — to make the deal happen.”

Bregman primarily played third base during his nine MLB seasons with the Houston Astros, but made it known this offseason he was open to playing second base to get the contract he wanted. Bregman, who will turn 31 in March, doesn’t have much experience at second, having started just two games there in his career. He hasn’t appeared in the middle infield position since 2018.

But the Red Sox seem confident, especially manager Alex Cora, that Bregman can bring his Gold Gove defense across the diamond.

“Alex was a Gold Glover at third base and we all know that,” Cora told NESN’s Tom Caron during last month’s Fenway Fest. “In 2017, I had a conversation with him. He needed to play third because it was (Carlos) Correa and (Jose) Altuve. I always envisioned Alex as a Gold Glove second baseman. His size, the way he moves — it felt kind of like, ‘You will be a second baseman.’ But he has played third base at a high level, so we’ll see where he ends up.”

Even with Bregman at second, he should provide an upgrade to Boston’s defense. That’s a necessity after the Red Sox led the American League in errors the last two seasons.