Red Sox acquisition Alex Bregman says 'I plan on winning here' - ESPN

FORT MYERS, Fla. — On top of the $40 million-a-year salary and love of hitting at Fenway Park, Alex Bregman said he chose to sign with the Boston Red Sox because he believes the organization can do something it has struggled to in recent years: win.

«I'm a winning player. This is a winning organization,» Bregman said at Sunday's news conference introducing him after he signed a three-year, $120 million contract. «Those players are winning players. We have winning coaches here. I plan on winning here after talking with some of the guys over the last two days. I can see that there's something special here.»

While Bregman has opt-outs after each of the first two seasons, he spoke like someone who plans on a remaining with the organization long-term. Boston drafted Bregman in the 29th round out of high school in 2012 but didn't sign him. Now, after nine seasons with the Houston Astros — the last eight of which included postseason appearances, with two World Series championships — Bregman was the piece de resistance for a Boston offseason that included trading for ace Garrett Crochet and adding right-hander Walker Buehler.

The Red Sox were 81-81 last year after consecutive last place finishes and have made the playoffs once in the last six years after winning the 2018 World Series.

«We entered the offseason with a pretty clearly defined punch list of things that we were hoping to achieve,» Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said. «We talked about adding to the top of our rotation. We talked about rebuilding our whole pen, improving our infield defense and adding a right-handed bat to balance out our lineup. And as the offseason progressed, it just became clearer and clearer that Alex was the perfect fit for what we