Reds avoid nightmare scenario after Cubs' pursuit of coveted free agent falls short

You can relax now, Reds fans. The long-held nightmare of 2024 Gold Glove Award-winner Alex Bregman joining the Chicago Cubs is now over after the free agent third baseman signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

The Bregman saga drew out much longer than anyone anticipated, and allowed teams like the Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays to give it their best shot. Even the Houston Astros were able to claw their way back into the Bregman sweepstakes, but in the end, the two-time All-Star chose Beantown over the Windy City.

It appears as though the Tigers had the best offer on the table with a six-year, $171.5 million package that included an opt out after the 2026 season, but in the end, Bregman took the $40 million AAV from Boston which included deferred money and multiple opt outs. It's expected that the longtime Astros third baseman will occupy second base for the Red Sox in 2025.

Reds avoid nightmare scenario after Cubs' pursuit of Alex Bregman falls short

The Cubs had already added two former Astros this offseason in Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly, but securing Bregman would have made the North Siders the clear favorites in the division. As it stands now, it's shaping up to be a three-horse race in the NL Central heading into the 2025 season. The Cubs still hold a slight edge, but the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers will likely be clipping at their heels all season.

The Reds' offseason additions of Jose Trevino, Brady Singer, Gavin Lux, and Taylor Rogers raise Cincinnati's ceiling heading into the upcoming season. If the Reds can keep players like Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft, and Matt McLain healthy throughout the 2025 season, there's no reason that Cincinnati can't make a run at the division crown.

Another impact free agent came off the board on Wednesday as well. Nick Pivetta, who was rumored to be on the Reds' radar earlier this offseason, signed a four-year deal with the San Diego Padres. Unless one of the Reds' NL Central competitors pulls off a blockbuster trade in the coming weeks, it would appear that the rosters are all but set heading into Opening Day.

There's no reason that the Reds cannot compete with the likes of the Cubs and Brewers in 2025 and return to the postseason for the first time since 2020. While several projection models don't give the Reds much of chance to break .500 during the upcoming season, the Cincinnati faithful know better. This is a playoff-caliber team, and with Bregman off to the AL East, it's an even playing field.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors