When he stepped to the plate Monday night in Detroit, Alex Bregman knew he might hear it from the fans he left at the altar this offseason.
"It’s all good," he said with a smile Monday afternoon. "It wouldn’t be the first time, won’t be the last time I’ve been booed before in my life."
After choosing the Red Sox over the Tigers this offseason in what became a very public free agent negotiation, Bregman expected a similar reception at Comerica Park "to the one that I’ve gotten here over the last six years. It is what it is, it’s part of it," he said. "And to be honest, I’m just super happy to be able to be playing the game of baseball at this level and playing against a great team. It’s always fun to compete."
Bregman reiterated Monday that he was "really close" to signing with the Tigers, who offered him a six-year, $171.5 million deal with an opt-out after 2026. The Red Sox came in at the last minute with a three-year, $120 million deal with opt-outs after each of the next two seasons and made Bregman the third highest-paid position player in the game, tied with Aaron Judge. Sure enough, the fans in Detroit showered Bregman in boos before his first at-bat Monday night. He lined out to center.
Bregman is off to a scorching start in Boston, third in the AL in OPS (.951) and second in extra base hits through 41 games with his new team. He's "super happy" with the Red Sox, he said. As for the Tigers, "obviously they have an incredible ballclub over there. First place in the American League, playing exceptionally well," Bregman said. "Can really pitch, can really hit, play good defense. Definitely got our hands full this series."
The Red Sox came to Detroit with a record of 22-20 in what's been a stop-and-start season for a talented team. Bregman has been Boston's best player, fourth among AL position players in fWAR (2.0). The Tigers welcomed them to town leading the AL at 26-15, tied for third in the majors. What they've shown so far is why Bregman saw them as a potential destination in the first place, along with his close relationship with A.J. Hinch.
"Obviously I wanted to play somewhere that I had an opportunity to win, and those were the teams that I talked to during free agency, the teams that I felt like had the ability to win this year but also for a long time," Bregman said. "Just like I feel we do here, I think they have a really good ballclub. Obviously an incredible manager who I’ve known for a long time, similar to knowing (Red Sox manager) Alex Cora for a long time here. I know the level of talent they have in the room, I knew the level of talent that we had here."
Bregman also considered the Cubs in free agency, but admitted shortly after signing with the Red Sox that "we thought we were going to be in Detroit the entire time, honestly. And then at the last second, Boston came in."
As a right-handed hitter who pulls most of his homers, Bregman is well suited to Fenway Park -- just like he was to Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes in Houston. Regarding the idea that the spacious dimensions of Comerica deterred him from signing with the Tigers, he said, "No, no. I feel like I can hit anywhere." Indeed, he's slugged .573 with four homers at home this season, compared to .562 and five homers on the road.
The Tigers, no doubt, would be better with Bregman in their lineup. Despite their strong start, third base remains a hole. They've used a platoon featuring Andy Ibañez, Zach McKinstry, Javy Baez and more recently Jace Jung, but haven't seen much production. Their third baseman were hitting .200 with a .547 OPS entering Monday's game, both of which ranked fourth worst in the majors. The return of Matt Vierling should help, but the Tigers could seek to upgrade the position ahead of the trade deadline.
Bregman's camp reportedly made two counteroffers to the Tigers before he accepted Boston's deal, one for $200 million over seven years, another for $186 million over six years with an opt-out after this season. At his current pace, it wouldn't be a shock if Bregman exercised his opt-out with the Red Sox to pursue an even bigger deal next winter.
Asked if Detroit is still a place he'd consider, Bregman laughed off the hypothetical and said, "I think that I’m focused on where my feet are right now and winning games this season and winning the game today." Spoken a bit like his former manager in Houston, with whom Bregman won the World Series in 2017 and later became a target of fans across baseball for his role in the Astros' sign-stealing scandal.
Hinch knows Bregman might catch some flak from the crowd this week, but also knows the two-time All-Star with two rings on his fingers won't care. He's an all-business player, on a business trip to Detroit.
"I get it, there’s an emotional attachment to public conversations or public pursuits, and it is what it is," said Hinch. "I don’t know if there’s been an opposing ballpark that Alex Bregman hasn’t gotten booed in, whether it’s about potentially coming to a place or not. It won’t bother him, but our fans will support the Tigers like they should."