Alex Bregman's Introductory Press Conference

The newest memeber of the Red Sox held a press conference yesterday, and Shank was there to cover it (with a lot of other reporters):

All smiles at Alex Bregman’s Red Sox introduction, even if the feel-good story has flaws

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Everyone said all the right things Sunday morning at JetBlue Park when the Red Sox finally rolled out their new acquisition, $40 million per year man Alex Bregman.

Side-by-side, the Sox presented Bregman’s agent Scott Boras, Bregman himself, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, manager Alex Cora, and team president/mouthpiece Sam Kennedy.

It was so big that NESN delivered it live to snow-bound New Englanders at 8:30 a.m. (must have killed NESN to cut away from “The Mad Fisherman”).

This was so big a number of Sox stars gathered at the back of the tent to listen to their new teammate/leader (not Rafael Devers, who was seen walking by the group, presumably to get to his car).

This was so big we had actual national baseball reporters from ESPN and USA Today present, a first for a team that has faded from relevance since trading Mookie Betts and pivoting to fiscal responsibility five long years ago.

Emphasis on that last point, as it seems even the national reporters are interested in the team again.

DHL Dan CCXLI - More On The Bregman Trade

A day after the surprise signing of Alex Bregman, Shank takes a deeper dive into its impact on the 2025 Red Sox:

Signing of Alex Bregman shows the good old Red Sox are back, and other thoughts

▪ It’s finally fun to follow the Red Sox again.

Just like that.

Imagine.

Can we all pretend the last five seasons never happened? Can we get John Henry and his FSG friends to pledge they’re Never Going Back to the five post-Mookie seasons that tarnished Boston’s baseball brand and tested loyalties of a fan base that justifiably asks ownership to go all-in every season?

Hope so. Red Sox owners are expected to be at JetBlue Park Monday morning for the annual organization meeting on the day of the team’s first full squad workout. There’s no official word from team public relations, but I am expecting the bosses to take a ceremonial victory lap around the warning track.

Former Sox CEO Larry Lucchino died last spring and has not been running the team for a full decade, but Wednesday night’s news on Bregman kindled memories of the hard-charging boss that cared about winning more than anything. Lucchino also enjoyed lively competition with the “Evil Empire,” and the Sox haven’t been the same since he stepped away.

Now it feels like the Bostons are back, perhaps even equipped to challenge the Yankees again.

It’ll be interesting to see how Alex Cora uses his old pal Bregman, a veteran third baseman. The situation reminds me a little of what happened with the Yankees when they acquired Alex Rodriguez in the spring of 2004 (no one is equating Bregman with A-Rod). The logical positioning would have been to move Derek Jeter to third and have A-Rod play short. But the Yanks didn’t want to embarrass their captain, so Jeter stayed at short and A-Rod took up the new position.

Read on for more analysis this trade has on the other positions for the Olde Towne Team, Bill Belichick, and, well, other thoughts.

A Step In The Right Direction

The Boston Red Sox suddenly got a bit more interesting, haven't they?

In signing Alex Bregman, the Red Sox finally did what they said they would — and it changes everything

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Everything is different now. Red Sox Nation’s long nightmare appears to be over. The Local Nine is back in business, spending money just like the old days and trying to win this year.

Life changed for Sox fans late Wednesday when news broke that Boston signed veteran Houston third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal.

After a couple of tight-fisted offseasons peppered with broken promises and faux pledges about “urgency,” this was a move Red Sox fans were waiting for. Bregman is a two-time World Series winner, a legitimate clubhouse leader, and a Fenway Park wrecking ball (.375 lifetime).

Anybody have a recording of the late John Kiley playing the “Hallelujah Chorus” on the Fenway Park organ?

Oh, happy day! Red Sox owner John Henry (who also owns the Globe) once again has paid big bucks for the best available righthanded hitter on the market.

Shank's being nice / non-critical of the his boss, the Red Sox owner? Someome's annual review must be right around the corner...