Alex Bregman spurns Blue Jays, signs with division rival Red Sox

The free agency market found one last way to burn the Blue Jays on the eve of the start of spring training. 

After two months of overtures and flirtations between Alex Bregman and the Blue Jays, the veteran third baseman signed a three-year contract with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, per multiple reports. 

The contract is for $120 million over three-years, per The Athletic’s Chandler Rome. It will have an opt out after each season. 

Bregman hit .260 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI last season while also winning the Gold Glove at third base. The two-time World Series champion is a two-time All-Star and earned MVP votes in four seasons.

Bregman was the last big free agent remaining on the market, and, like seemingly every big free agent this year, was connected to the Blue Jays at some point in the offseason.

But, unlike Juan Soto, Roki Saskai and Corbin Burnes, it seems as if Toronto's pursuit of Bregman tailed off the longer it went on.

In speaking to reporters last week, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said that any acquisition would likely come "via trade," which poured cold water on their pursuit of Bregman, a free agent.

Depending on which report you believe, Bregman was reportedly looking for a six-to-seven year contract that would pay him anywhere between $150 to $200 million. He was also reportedly sitting on multiple six-years offers.

Instead, he ended up opting for a shorter contract that will pay him $40 million a year while also prodviding him the flexiblity to opt out after this season.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported the Astros had, at one point, offered him a six-year, $165 million contract, but they were also one of the first teams to bow out of the Bregman sweepstakes.

Bregman's market stalled out as the winter went on, which is where the Blue Jays appeared to sneak into the picture along with the Tigers and Cubs.

It's not known how much the Blue Jays offered him — if they ever had a formal contract offer at all. The main reporting around the Blue Jays' pursuit of Bregman was that they were the only team willing to offer him a long contract.

But, in the end, it appears that it didn't matter.