Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora knows a thing or two about middle infield defense. He also knows a thing or two about Alex Bregman.
Before managing the Red Sox, Cora was Bregman’s bench coach with the Houston Astros, watching as he took the league by storm in 2017 and helped Houston to their first World Series title.
Now that Bregman is a free agent, Cora seems to have a strong opinion about his fit with the Red Sox.
Bregman has been a third baseman his whole career, and Rafael Devers currently occupies the position in Boston. But Cora firmly believes if his Red Sox were to sign the two-time American League All-Star, he could easily take over second base.
“Alex was a Gold Glover at third base. We all know that,”Cora said on NESN Saturday. “But in 2017, I had a conversation with him and he needed to play third because it was (Carlos) Correa (at shortstop) and (Jose) Altuve (at third). I always envisioned Alex as a Gold Glove second baseman.”
Cora didn’t expressly say the Red Sox were pursuing Bregman, but they’d likely be the only team interested in converting him to a second baseman of the likely suitors at this stage.
Bregman, 30, has reportedly been seeking a $200 million contract in free agency, and doesn’t seem to be having much luck finding it. Cora also said in an interview last week that he could see the Red Sox making an unspecified big signing late in the offseason, much like J.D. Martinez in 2018.
