Red Sox reportedly believed Alex Bregman was bluffing about Cubs $175 million offer

Matt Sullivan

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Red Sox reportedly believed Alex Bregman was bluffing about Cubs $175 million offer image

There has not been a bigger storyline for the Boston Red Sox this offseason than the ongoing contract talks with Alex Bregman. They were trying to bring him back, but he left, signing with the Chicago Cubs on a five-year, $175 million contract.

The story behind how Bregman came to sign with the Cubs is a brutal one for Red Sox fans. Not only did the Red Sox seemingly pass on the chance to offer a similar deal, but a new report suggests even more incompetence from the front office.

According to A.J. Pierzynski on Foul Territory, the Red Sox reportedly believed Bregman was bluffing about the contract offer he received from the Cubs. Then, once it was apparent it was real, it was far too late to convince Bregman to return.

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"The Bregman's camp with Boras goes back to them and says, 'Hey, we have a higher offer, and we're going to probably take it.' And the Red Sox were like, 'We don't believe you. If you can do it, do it,'" Pierzynski said. "...The Red Sox literally would not move, would not budge, and really wouldn't negotiate until it was too late."

Boston's front office, according to Pierzynski's report of the contract talks, didn't show a willingness to work with Bregman on his contract.

Not only did they not acquiesce and give Bregman the full no-trade clause he was looking for due to a loose club policy, but the Red Sox gave him their offer and never backed off from it until it was too late.

The Red Sox didn't handle these contract talks well at all. They played hardball with Bregman, and according to this report, they even called his bluff, though that failed in a major way, as he just decided to sign with the Cubs.

The vibes surrounding the Red Sox haven't been great whatsoever, and this report from Pierzynski highlights how things were way worse than they initially seemed.

Not only did the Red Sox lose Bregman to the Cubs on a deal they could've easily matched, but they also seemingly burned a bridge in the process and might've impacted future contract negotiations.

This whole Bregman situation, from the Rafael Devers trade fallout to now, has been a complete disaster for Boston.

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Staff Writer