Craig Breslow Reveals His Most Powerful Message of Encouragement for Red Sox Fans as Team Faces Turbulent Offseason Following Mookie Betts’ Trade to Dodgers and Possibly Losing Alex Bregman Despite Boston’s Nearing a $155 Million Five-Year Contract
BOSTON – In the wake of a postseason exit that left Red Sox Nation yearning for more, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow delivered a rallying cry Thursday at the MLB General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas. “We cannot afford to stand still,” Breslow told reporters, his voice steady amid the swirl of trade whispers and free-agent speculation. “The passion of our fans demands action now – not promises for tomorrow. We’re building a team to contend in 2026 and beyond, and that starts with bold moves today.” The words landed like a fastball in the ninth, a direct rebuke to the ghosts of past offseasons and a nod to the turbulence ahead, including the lingering scar of Mookie Betts’ 2020 departure to the Dodgers and the fresh uncertainty surrounding Alex Bregman’s future.
Breslow’s message comes at a pivotal moment for a franchise that clawed its way back to relevance in 2025. The Red Sox finished 89-73, snagging a wild-card berth and their first playoff appearance since 2021. They stunned the Yankees with an 11-strikeout gem from ace Garrett Crochet in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, only to falter in the next two, outgunned by New York’s depth and firepower. It was progress – a step up from the rebuild years under previous regimes – but not enough to silence the skeptics. Boston ranked 15th in home runs and struggled with run prevention beyond Crochet’s dominance, exposing holes that Breslow vows to plug aggressively.
The shadow of Betts looms large over this offseason, a trade that still stings five years later. In February 2020, then-Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom shipped the 2018 AL MVP – fresh off a World Series title and batting .295 with 29 homers – to Los Angeles in a three-team deal that netted outfielder Alex Verdugo, catcher Connor Wong, and infield prospect Jeter Downs. The rationale? Boston couldn’t bridge the gap on a long-term extension, reportedly offering far less than the 12-year, $365 million megadeal Betts inked with the Dodgers months later. Bloom aimed to reset the farm system and shed David Price’s albatross contract, but the move symbolized a franchise in retreat.
Betts thrived in Dodger blue, slashing .279/.366/.542 with 108 homers over his first 439 games, including a pivotal role in their 2020 championship. He even transitioned seamlessly to second base and shortstop, earning Gold Gloves across positions. Meanwhile, Boston plummeted to 108 losses in 2020, igniting a fan revolt that ousted Bloom and ushered in Breslow’s era. Verdugo provided solid everyday production before being flipped in a 2023 deal, Wong has become a reliable backstop, but Downs flamed out and was waived by 2023. The trade’s legacy? A powerhouse Dodgers dynasty – now two-time defending champs – built partly on Betts’ versatility, while Boston spent years in the wilderness, missing the playoffs four straight times.
Fans haven’t forgotten. Chants of “Let Mookie walk” echoed through Fenway in 2020, and the wound reopened during the 2025 series against L.A., where Betts homered off Boston pitching. “That trade was a gut punch,” said longtime supporter Mike O’Reilly, tailgating outside Fenway before a recent alumni game. “We let a legend go for scraps, and look at them now – Ohtani, Freeman, Betts. It’s a reminder: Don’t half-step in Boston.” Breslow, who joined post-trade, acknowledges the pain but frames it as fuel. “Mookie’s success validates what we lost, but it also sharpens our resolve,” he said. “We’re not rebuilding; we’re reloading.”
Enter Alex Bregman, the 2025 All-Star whose opt-out clause has thrust the Red Sox into another high-stakes negotiation. Signed last February to a three-year, $120 million pact with opt-outs after each season and $20 million deferred annually, Bregman was a coup – a two-time World Series champ who stabilized third base and slugged .273/.360/.462 with 18 homers in 114 games despite a midseason quad strain. His leadership meshed with young guns like Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran, and his +3 Outs Above Average defense anchored the infield. But Bregman, 32, declined his options Monday, eyeing a longer, richer extension as free agency beckons.
Rumors swirl of Boston nearing a five-year, $155 million deal to keep him – $31 million AAV with incentives and a no-trade clause – per insiders close to the talks. It’s a bargain compared to projections of six years and $192 million from CBS Sports, or even $150 million over six from Bleacher Report. “Bregman’s our rock,” Breslow emphasized. “He’s the middle-of-the-order threat we lacked, and we’re committed to making this work.” Yet competition lurks: The Tigers, who nearly signed him last winter, and Phillies eye a reunion. Losing him would echo Betts – a self-inflicted wound on a roster already thin at corner infield after trading Rafael Devers mid-2025 for prospects. Boston’s payroll, hovering at $190 million, has room after shedding Devers’ $87.5 million extension, but fans crave commitment, not another bridge-burning exit.
Breslow’s offseason blueprint addresses these scars head-on. Priority one: A No. 2 starter behind Crochet, who led MLB with 255 strikeouts and a 2.59 ERA. Targets include Twins’ All-Star Joe Ryan – nearly acquired at the 2025 deadline – or Brewers’ Freddy Peralta, both controllable and cost-effective via trade. “We need someone to start playoff games,” Breslow said. “Pitching depth won us 89 games; elite arms win championships.” Free agency offers Dylan Cease or Ranger Suárez, but trades align with Boston’s prospect-rich farm, headlined by Kristian Campbell and Wilyer Abreu.
Offensively, the focus is power. No Red Sox hitter topped 25 homers in 2025, a glaring gap Breslow aims to fill with a “masher” for the middle order. Free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber, who mashed 46 bombs for the Phillies, tops the list; insiders peg Boston as a “big player” despite his .244 average. Pete Alonso or Eugenio Suárez could slide to first or DH, easing pressure if Bregman walks. Outfield surplus – Duran, Anthony, Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela – invites trades, perhaps packaging Jarren Duran for Ryan to thin the logjam.
Injuries tempered optimism: Triston Casas eyes a spring return from rotator cuff surgery, while Anthony’s clean bill fuels Rookie of the Year buzz. Free agents like Lucas Giolito (declining his $20 million mutual) and Nick Pivetta (qualified offer) could return cheaply, bolstering depth. “We’re aligned on resources,” Breslow assured, hinting at ownership’s green light after a $210 million 2025 payroll.
Breslow’s encouragement resonates because it’s rooted in accountability. The Betts trade taught Boston the cost of inaction; Bregman’s saga tests their resolve. “Fans invested in us deserve a team that fights every day,” he said. “This isn’t about the future – it’s about winning now.” As winter meetings loom, Red Sox Nation braces for splashy headlines. Will they lock Bregman, land Ryan, and bury the Betts-era regrets? Or repeat history’s harsh lessons? Breslow’s words hang in the Fenway air: The clock is ticking, and Boston’s back.
