Arguably the Red Sox’s fiercest competition in the race to sign Alex Bregman has been the Tigers, but Boston now might have a leg up on Detroit.
ESPN’s Buster Olney provided an update on the Tigers’ pursuit of Bregman on Sunday afternoon, but the longtime MLB insider’s report included a noteworthy follow-up.
“The Tigers seem destined to get at least one more veteran for their roster,” Olney wrote. “They’ve talked to Alex Bregman, who could be a primary choice, and if that doesn’t work out, they could turn to Jack Flaherty, a pitcher they value. Teams say that Flaherty’s camp has moved from long-term ask at the outset of the offseason (five years?) to something short-term.”
Well, roughly six hours after Olney’s report, his ESPN colleague, Jeff Passan, revealed the Tigers and Flaherty agreed to a two-year, $35 million contract. The right-hander will earn $25 million this season and can make as much as $20 million in 2026 if he doesn’t opt out after Year 1 in Detroit.
Does adding Flaherty take the Tigers out of the running to sign Bregman? Not necessarily. But adding another big salary to its books certainly won’t help Detroit land the star third baseman, who reportedly is looking for a lucrative contract no shorter than five years in length.
Story continues below advertisement
Recent developments around the big leagues didn’t lock the Red Sox into “favorites” status to land Bregman. But more marquee signings outside of Boston and Bregman’s dragged-out free agency potentially could work in the Red Sox’s favor.
Featured image via Troy Taormina/Imagn Images
