The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays are both making headlines this December, but for very different reasons. As the Red Sox navigate a high-stakes offseason with the future of Alex Bregman hanging in the balance, the Blue Jays have taken an unconventional route, investing in the promise of a virtually unknown Dutch teenager. The baseball world is abuzz as these two AL East rivals chart bold, divergent paths in their quest for long-term success.
For Boston, the pressing question is whether they can retain free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. With the Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks emerging as legitimate contenders for Bregman’s signature, and the Chicago Cubs reportedly in the mix, the pressure on Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has never been greater. According to sources briefed on the ongoing discussions, Breslow has carved out a clear financial path to bring Bregman back, but he’s also keeping his options open. The Red Sox’ first major move this offseason was the pending acquisition of first baseman Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals, signaling a determination to upgrade offensively without blowing up the payroll.
Breslow’s approach has been lauded for its efficiency. Boston managed to acquire Contreras and pitchers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, all while maintaining crucial payroll flexibility. The blockbuster trade of Rafael Devers last June not only shook up the roster but also freed up more than $220 million in future commitments. With the Fenway Sports Group recently agreeing to sell the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins for a reported $1.7 to $1.8 billion—about double their 2021 purchase price—the Red Sox ownership group has demonstrated its willingness and ability to make big financial moves when the timing is right.
Chaim Bloom, now president of baseball operations for the Cardinals and formerly Boston’s chief baseball officer, played a role in Boston’s recent transactions. Bloom sent his old team a combined $28 million in separate deals for Gray and Contreras, helping to reduce Gray’s salary to $21 million for one year and Contreras’ to $42.5 million over two years. These shrewd moves have left Boston with the financial resources to compete aggressively for Bregman, who is projected by The Athletic’s Tim Britton to command a six-year, $171 million contract.
Bregman’s value to Boston extends well beyond his stat line. Despite missing nearly seven weeks last season due to a strained right quadriceps, his impact on the clubhouse and on-field performance was widely regarded as transformative. As one evaluation put it, “Bregman is still the best fit for the Red Sox. He is one of the game’s most respected leaders, that rare player who makes his teammates better.”
Still, Breslow is not putting all his eggs in one basket. There are alternatives on the market, including free agent Bo Bichette, who will turn 28 in March and is projected to receive an eight-year, $212 million deal. Bichette’s ability to shift from shortstop to second or third base makes him a flexible option. Trade targets like Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks or Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals could also provide a major upgrade at second base. Internally, 23-year-old Marcelo Mayer impressed defensively while filling in for Bregman, but injury concerns linger after Mayer missed the final two months of the season due to right wrist surgery—his third consecutive injury-shortened campaign. Other third base options include Eugenio Suarez, Kazuma Okamoto, Houston’s Isaac Paredes, and St. Louis’ Nolan Arenado.
If Breslow chooses not to add another bat, the Red Sox would essentially be swapping Bregman for Contreras without further upgrades to a lineup that ranked just 14th in runs per game after the All-Star break last season. Contreras, for his part, brings solid value—his fWAR over the past two seasons is comparable to Pete Alonso’s production, but at a savings of $112.5 million (excluding the three prospects Boston sent to St. Louis). Sonny Gray, meanwhile, has been worth an average of $34 million per season over the past three years, according to Fangraphs’ dollar metric, making both acquisitions relative bargains if they remain productive.
While the Red Sox weigh their high-profile options, the Toronto Blue Jays have made a splash of a very different sort. Earlier this month, the Jays signed 17-year-old left-handed pitcher Celwin Hurkmans from the Netherlands to a minor league deal, using up the last of their 2025 international bonus pool money before the December 15 deadline. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-6, Hurkmans is considered one of Europe’s most promising young prospects, having helped DSS Haarlem win the division championship in the second-highest baseball league in the Netherlands.
What’s remarkable is how little is known about Hurkmans on this side of the Atlantic. He’s never pitched in North America, and his player profile is almost entirely blank except for his full name: Celwin Willem Adrianus Theodorus Hurkmans. The Blue Jays’ decision to use their remaining bonus pool on a virtual unknown is a gamble, but one that could pay off handsomely down the road. As the team’s transactions page confirms, “The Blue Jays had to spend the last of their 2025 bonus pool allotment by Dec. 15 as it doesn’t roll over into the new year, so it was very much a ‘use it or lose it’ situation, and the Blue Jays used it in the most unusual way.”
Hurkmans will be the second player from the Netherlands to join the Blue Jays system, following Sem Robberse, who was traded to the Cardinals in 2023. It’s still undecided where Hurkmans will begin his North American journey. Most international signings his age start in the Dominican Summer League, but the Blue Jays could opt for the Florida Complex League in Dunedin to reduce travel for the teenage southpaw. Details on his pitching style, velocity, and makeup remain scarce, but with his size and youth, Toronto is clearly betting on long-term upside.
The Blue Jays’ move fits a broader pattern of aggressive pitching acquisitions this offseason, both domestically and internationally. It’s a calculated risk, but one that reflects the team’s willingness to think outside the box as they build for the future.
As the Red Sox and Blue Jays move forward, their strategies highlight the many ways teams can pursue improvement. Boston is leveraging financial flexibility and a willingness to make blockbuster deals, while Toronto is investing in raw, international talent. Both approaches carry risk, but they also offer the potential for big rewards if the pieces fall into place.
With the offseason still unfolding, all eyes remain on Boston’s decision regarding Bregman and Toronto’s development of their Dutch phenom. The AL East landscape could look very different by Opening Day, but for now, the drama and anticipation continue to build.
