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Alex Bregman could join Tigers in future after Detroit made 'priority list' in free agency
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- Alex Bregman could join Tigers in future after Detroit made 'priority list' in free agency
LAKELAND, Fla. — Don't let anyone tell you the Alex Bregman saga with the Detroit Tigers is finished.
Maybe it's just getting started.
Agent Scott Boras — who has represented Bregman for the past five years and negotiated with Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris for the past three months — released a statement to the Free Press on Monday morning. Here's the new information: Bregman was open to joining the Tigers and even made them contract proposals before signing with the Boston Red Sox .
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"Alex has great respect for the Detroit organization, its great players, and its heralded manager," Boras wrote. "He received a close-up view of the Tigers and their promising future during the 2024 playoffs, which is why he directed me to place Detroit on his priority list for free-agent meetings. Following very positive meetings, Alex directed me to convey offers to Detroit, which illustrates his high regard for the city and the franchise."
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Agent Scott Boras (left) and Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (right) on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Fort Myers, Florida, after Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox in free agency.
Last Wednesday night, Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox, which includes $60 million in deferred money and opt-out clauses after the 2025 and 2026 seasons. He turned down a more lucrative offer from the Tigers : six years and $171.5 million, with $40 million in deferred money and an opt-out clause after the 2026 season.
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"We want players who want to be here," Harris said Friday morning, when asked about Bregman signing with the Red Sox over the Tigers . "We made a very compelling offer to Alex Bregman , but he chose to sign somewhere else. That's fine."
Bregman presented the Tigers with two counter offers, according to multiple people who spoke on condition of anonymity because no agreement was reached.
Alex Bregman of the Boston Red Sox participates in drills at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.
While full details remain unknown, the contract structures proposed by Bregman's representatives to the Tigers ranged from $30-31 million per year over six to seven years. One option: seven years, $200 million. Another option: six years, $186 million with an opt-out clause after the 2025 season. Neither proposal from Bregman's representatives included deferred money.
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For the first proposal, the Tigers made it clear they wouldn't pay $200 million . For the second, the Tigers refused to include an opt-out clause after the first season due to the risk.
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So, Bregman signed with the Red Sox.
The Red Sox deal includes opt-out clauses that allow Bregman to enter free agency after the 2025 season.
And then, the saga with the Tigers could begin again.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Alex Bregman could join Detroit Tigers if he hits free agency again
