Red Sox find new target after losing Alex Bregman

In a somewhat shocking turn of events, star third baseman Alex Bregman joined the Chicago Cubs.

He signed a five-year, $175 million deal with a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs, leaving the Boston Red Sox without their primary target. With that in mind, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow will have to be quite aggressive to find a suitable replacement in free agency. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the team has already identified its new target.

Red Sox will go all-in on Bo Bichette

"The Boston Red Sox will now turn their sights to Bo Bichette," Nightengale wrote on X.

This makes perfect sense, all things considered. Bichette is the second-biggest name in free agency behind Kyle Tucker, and he can give this team some much-needed stability at second base. The Red Sox signed Bregman without telling Rafael Devers, moved Devers out of third base and then traded him away when he didn't like the move. Now, seven months later, they don't have either player. 

Bichette is reportedly looking for a long-term deal worth in the ballpark of $300 million, and the Red Sox's recent reluctance to spend big bucks might make this an unlikely signing. He's also drawn interest from the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, and a return to the Toronto Blue Jays isn't off the table. This has been a slow offseason for the two most prominent teams in the AL East, and they may now engage in a bidding war to save face with the fans.