Alex Bregman took the significantly larger short-term money over the grander long-term deal.
The longtime Astros standout infielder agreed Wednesday night to a deal with the Red Sox for three years and $120 million with opt-outs after the first two seasons.
The deal includes deferred money.
Bregman accepted the more eye-popping average-annual-value offer over the Tigers’ larger guaranteed total. The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed that Detroit had offered Bregman $171.5 million over six seasons — with an opt-out after 2026 — and he turned down the roughly $28.5 million average.
With Boston, Bregman can make $40 million (albeit partly deferred) in one year and, if he performs, can try to cash in on a steeper pact a year from now.
Part of the hope for Bregman and the Red Sox is Fenway Park will help the chances of the early opt-out being triggered.
The righty slugger is pull-heavy, and there is plenty of reason for righties to pull pitches right off or over the Green Monster.
In 21 games and 98 plate appearances — which isn’t a tiny sample size — in Boston, the 30-year-old owns a 1.240 OPS with seven home runs.
The Tigers, who surprised their way into the American League Divisional Series last season, are left without a star bat addition.
They could have used Bregman, one of the better all-around players in baseball who, in a somewhat down season last year, posted a .768 OPS with 26 homers in 145 games.
Detroit could give the third base job to Matt Vierling, who is coming off a strong season in which he finished with a .735 OPS. They also could give a shot to top prospect Jace Jung, if he wins the job in camp. Vierling is a righty and Jung a lefty, making a platoon possible.
Their infield will look differently after they signed Gleyber Torres, and they will hope their rotation is improved with Jack Flaherty back and Alex Cobb added.
But barring a late surprise, they will enter the season with about $171.5 million unspent.
This story originally appeared on NY Post
