BOSTON FANS REACT WITH FURY AFTER ALEX BREGMAN OPTS FOR A MOVE TO CHICAGO
Alex Bregman heads to Chicago on a 5-year, $175M deal. We analyse the fallout for the Red Sox and their failed third base strategy.
Well, that’s it for the Alex Bregman sweepstakes, and the Red Sox came up empty. ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the news Saturday night: the Cubs landed Bregman with a five-year, $175 million deal. Boston just watched another top free agent slip away.
Red Sox fans are already frustrated after missing out on Pete Alonso and having to settle for Willson Contreras. Now, losing Bregman has only made things worse. He was one of the biggest bats available this offseason—coming off a .273 average, 18 home runs, 28 doubles, and an .821 OPS in 114 games. But it wasn’t just about his numbers. Bregman brought leadership and postseason experience, exactly what people say Boston’s been missing since 2018—whether they made the playoffs or not.
Yeah, it stings. But if you squint, there’s still a little hope buried under all the bad news.
Bregman to the Cubs just feels like another gut punch for Boston fans. Critics aren’t letting it go, especially when you remember what happened last season with Rafael Devers. When the Red Sox signed Bregman in early 2025, Devers got pushed off third base and into a DH role—a move he never wanted. That broke the bond between Devers and the team, and by mid-June, Boston shipped him to the Giants for not much in return. A franchise icon, gone. Two of the guys they got back, James Tibbs III and Jordan Hicks, didn’t pan out or were traded away.
So now, looking back, Boston made room for Bregman by trading away a homegrown star—and Bregman’s gone after less than a year. It just highlights how inconsistent this front office has been. When Breslow took over in late 2023, the team barely made any moves. Their only big signing was Lucas Giolito—a gamble at two years, $38 million, especially after the rough season he’d just had.
Then, 2024 brought a different approach. Breslow traded for Garrett Crochet, who almost won the Cy Young in 2025. The Red Sox gave Bregman a three-year, $140 million contract. At first, it seemed like a win—Bregman was happy, and fans were happy. But things changed fast. Boston didn’t extend him midseason, and Bregman decided to use his opt-out after just one year.
Now, social media is full of angry fans wondering if the front office or ownership even cares about winning a title. People keep pointing out how the Red Sox traded Devers to make room for Bregman, and now they have neither. The team basically created its own mess at third base.
To be fair, Boston did make a strong push for Bregman and reportedly offered close to $170 million. They just got outbid again. That’s not for lack of trying, but it shows their financial approach just isn’t keeping up in a league where other teams will spend big to win.
And honestly, this isn’t the Boston Red Sox people remember. Bo Bichette wants $300 million… But if the Red Sox wouldn’t pay $175 million for Bregman, why would they go after Bichette? The answer’s simple: they won’t. Or, at best, they’ll get outbid again.
But hey, there’s still some light at the end of the tunnel. The Red Sox have a top-10 farm system. Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell are waiting in the wings. It’s not like the team will suddenly fall apart—and both guys have been putting in serious work. Campbell’s packed on muscle, and Mayer’s been grinding in the gym with Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran. These guys could actually make some noise in the lineup soon. With Anthony coming back, things could get interesting.
Sure, losing Bregman hurts. But Boston has no choice except to look at what’s next, and honestly, the options aren’t bad. Even without Bregman, the future’s still bright—people have been saying it since July, right when extension talks stopped.
LAKERS ON THE BRINK: LEBRON JAMES ADMITS DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER 3-0 SERIES DEFICIT
"We still have life." LeBron James remains defiant despite a brutal 131-108 loss to OKC at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves just one loss away from elimination after a tough 131-108 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Although the Lakers held a halftime lead for the second consecutive game, they again fell apart in the second half, allowing Oklahoma City to cruise to a 3-0 series lead.
LeBron James spoke after the game, highlighting the Thunder’s depth and relentless energy while emphasising that the Lakers still believe they have a chance to push the series further. The Thunder outscored Los Angeles 74-49 after halftime and once more dominated the third quarter, continuing a pattern that has largely defined this series.
“They’re solid from top to bottom,” James said after the game. “And they never take their foot off the gas.”
Oklahoma City converted at a 56 per cent clip and spread the scoring load, even though reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only 7-of-20 from the field with 23 points. The Thunder’s supporting players reinforced the effort alongside Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Alex Caruso.
LeBron pointed directly to the third quarter as the turning point for Game 3.
“Obviously, the third quarter is where it starts,” he noted. “We lacked the energy and effort, and they dropped over 30 points on us.”
Despite strong first-half performances from Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, giving Los Angeles a one-point lead at halftime, Oklahoma City seized control right after the break, forcing turnovers and capitalising on easy transition baskets.
“In that third quarter, we couldn’t hit shots,” James admitted. “We defended but didn’t get stops, which let them take control.”
The Lakers were outscored 33-20 in that quarter alone. James managed just one field goal, while Austin Reaves went scoreless in the period.
James finished the night with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, but his shooting was off at 7-for-19, and he posted a minus-24 plus-minus rating.
Los Angeles also turned the ball over 17 times, which led to 30 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers 64-44 in the paint as well.
When pressed about the frustration of falling behind 3-0, James kept his response measured.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed or angry,” he said. “You’re obviously disappointed being down 3-0, but we still have life. That’s all you can ask for. We have to be much better on Monday.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick backed up James’ take, describing Oklahoma City as an elite team in the NBA.
“They’ve beaten us three straight games,” Redick said. “They’re a really impressive basketball team.”
Redick previously drew comparisons between the Thunder and dominant teams like the 1990s Chicago Bulls and the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors. James acknowledged Oklahoma City’s versatility and depth, which have caused significant matchup problems.
“They have the right personnel to adapt to whatever you throw out there,” James said. “And they stay productive no matter who’s on the floor.”
Even with Gilgeous-Alexander’s uneven scoring, the Thunder have continued to win comfortably. Holmgren’s inside presence has been dominant, and Mitchell once again put up a strong stat line with 24 points and 10 assists.
James wasn’t surprised by the Thunder’s sustained pressure, given their roster makeup.
“You’ve seen them develop over the years,” he said. “They have a lot of players who can do multiple things, and that depth really helps.”
The Lakers are still without Luka Doncic, sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain from April, which has hampered their offensive rhythm, especially late in games.
Facing elimination now, James insisted the team’s focus remains squarely on Game 4 rather than any bigger questions about the group’s future.
"No", James said when asked if they considered this might be their last run together. “We’re just concentrating on the moment and moving forward from there.”
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will fight to avoid a sweep and keep the series alive before heading back to Oklahoma City.
MAX HOLLOWAY BREAKS SILENCE ON PARAMOUNT REGARDING CONOR MCGREGOR UFC 329 RUMORS
Relive the 13-year history between Holloway and McGregor as the Hawaiian star targets International Fight Week for ultimate revenge.
Max Holloway is hungry for payback against Conor McGregor as rumours swirl about a rematch.
McGregor hasn’t stepped inside the octagon since that quick loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. His last win was way back in 2020 when he steamrolled Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in under a minute. He was supposed to fight Michael Chandler in 2024, but that fell through after he got injured.
Now, at 37, McGregor’s back in training and eyeing a return for UFC 329 on July 11, right as International Fight Week rolls around. Before that, he missed out on a shot at the White House card, so this July date is shaping up to be his next window.
Dana White has flip-flopped a bit on McGregor’s comeback, but now he sounds confident: “It’s looking good. Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.” And right now, Holloway looks like the top pick for the fight, 13 years after they first went at it.
Back then, McGregor beat Holloway by decision. Since then, Holloway’s had his own ups and downs; he lost the BMF belt to Charles Oliveira in March and hasn’t fought since. Still, he’s eager to get back, especially if it means a shot at Conor.
Talking to Paramount, Holloway laid it out: “We have history. We fought a long time ago. If someone’s got a win over me, I want that back. If he really is serious about returning, and it looks like he is, then this is an exciting fight. He looks hungry. He even did a boxing exhibition not too long ago, so it looks like he’s really coming back. I just want another shot. Any fight with Conor is huge, but with our past? It means even more. If I can knock a few names off my list, that’s great.”
For now, Holloway hasn’t heard anything official from the UFC about July. "Maybe we'll see what happens,” he said. “I’m seeing all the same talk you are. I haven’t heard anything yet, but July would work for me. They say you’re only as good as your last fight, and I want people to forget about that one as soon as possible.”
