BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox fanbase has been hit with a massive gut punch as reports of a watered-down “Plan B” have emerged, landing like a cold splash of water on a fanbase that was begging for bold, aggressive action this offseason.
Instead of a decisive pivot behind re-signing Alex Bregman (their primary target) or chasing another top-tier bat like Pete Alonso, the front office is reportedly pivoting to targets with lower impact and lower salaries—a move that has reignited the intense anger over quiet offseasons and raised fresh doubts about who is really steering the club.
The Disappointing Pivot: From Star to “Complementary”
The Red Sox leadership, led by Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow, publicly stated the team needed “strong bats who can change games fast” after their 2025 playoff exit. This set the stage for an all-out pursuit of a star infielder like Bregman.
However, the latest reports suggest the team is now looking at a less aggressive strategy:
- The Big Swings are Slowing: The high-end targets (Bregman, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber) are proving costly, and the Red Sox seem unwilling to meet the market price quickly.
- The “Complementary” Focus: Insiders suggest the Red Sox are now considering acquiring one bigger name alongside “an additional complementary position player”—targeting more affordable names like Jorge Polanco or J.T. Realmuto (who fills a position they don’t critically need).
- The Financial Squeeze: The team is projected to have only about $22 million left in payroll flexibility if they stick to last year’s spending level of $245 million for luxury tax purposes. Signing a star like Bregman (projected at $26M-$28M AAV) would immediately force them to trade salary and/or exceed their self-imposed limit.
Who Is Steering the Club?
The perceived lack of urgency and the focus on “Plan B” targets fuels the most toxic question in Boston: Is Craig Breslow (the CBO) truly steering the club, or are the decisions being dictated by ownership group Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who are focused on cutting payroll and maintaining financial discipline?
- The Historical Grievance: Fans have endured years of quiet offseasons, trading away homegrown stars (Mookie Betts, Rafael Devers), and broken promises of “going full throttle.” Boos have rained down on executives at fan events.
- The Breslow vs. Cora Dynamic: This hesitancy also reportedly adds tension between Breslow and Manager Alex Cora. Cora is known for demanding an urgent focus on winning now, while Breslow has emphasized the long-term vision and farm system development—a narrative fans despise. The “Plan B” strategy suggests Breslow’s long-term vision is winning the battle over Cora’s immediate urgency.
This “watered down” approach has deepened the fear that the Red Sox are more committed to staying under the Competitive Balance Tax threshold than they are to fielding a World Series contender, ensuring the anger and doubt in Boston will only grow hotter.
