“Honestly, we thought we were going to Detroit the entire time. Then, at the last second, Boston came in,” he said. Bregman, who turns 31 later this month, is a two-time All-Star and MVP finalist known for his power, plate discipline, and excellent defense at third base.

Alex Bregman planned to sign with the Detroit Tigers in free agency — until the All-Star third baseman instead joined the Boston Red Sox on Feb. 12.