With spring training just a month away, the Red Sox are still in search of a right-handed bat to plant in the heart of their lineup.
Boston is in luck, as former Astros third baseman Alex Bregman remains on the market as arguably the best hitter still left in free agency.
But even with the team’s clear need for pop at the plate and Alex Cora’s continued endorsement of Bregman this winter, Boston has not inked the 30-year-old infielder to a deal.
According to longtime MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, that inaction might be a ploy from the Red Sox — especially if it leads to a desperate Bregman eventually lowering his contract demands with spring right around the corner.