The news that Alex Bregman has rejected massive, career-defining contracts to declare “lifelong loyalty” to the Boston Red Sox is an extreme exaggeration of a deal that was already finalized nearly a year ago.
The Reality: Alex Bregman did sign with the Red Sox in February 2025, but his contract was structured to give him maximum financial flexibility, not lifelong loyalty.
Here are the accurate details surrounding the sensationalized claims:
1. The Real Contract: $120 Million, Not $250 Million
- Actual Deal: Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox in February 2025.
- The Opt-Outs: The deal includes an opt-out clause after every single season (2025 and 2026). This structure was designed to give Bregman the ability to hit the free-agent market again quickly to secure the long-term, high-value deal he wanted.
- Opt-Out Status: He already opted out of the contract after the 2025 season, making him a free agent right now.
2. The Rejected Mega-Deals
Bregman did reject longer deals that would have been more valuable than his Red Sox contract in terms of total guaranteed money, but not necessarily average annual value (AAV):
- Tigers Offer: He reportedly turned down a six-year, $171.5 million offer from the Detroit Tigers before signing with Boston.
- Yankees/Cubs Offers: Other long-term offers were reportedly considered, including a four-year, $120 million offer from the Cubs.
Bregman ultimately chose the Red Sox’s $40 million AAV, which was the highest annual salary on the table, allowing him to quickly reset his market value for a larger, longer contract in this free-agent cycle.
3. Money vs. Loyalty
The quote, “I will live and die as a Red Sox legend,” is almost certainly a dramatic fictionalization of his situation.
Bregman is currently a free agent after exercising his opt-out clause to seek a larger contract. His current focus is on maximizing his earnings and securing a final long-term deal, leading to rumors linking him to the Yankees, Phillies, and even a return to Houston, not a declaration of permanent loyalty to Boston.
The emotion and “loyalty” referenced are likely a nod to the fact that Bregman was a popular, high-intensity leader in the Red Sox clubhouse during his single season there.
