For the Boston Red Sox, a routine single turned into a nightmare on May 23. Their star third baseman felt a pop in his right quad while rounding the base. The injury was immediately described as “pretty severely strained.” For manager Alex Cora, it sparked a haunting memory. Cora bluntly stated, “He’s going to be out for a while. Very similar to ‘21,” referring to Bregman’s quad injury that sidelined him for 58 games in the season. And this time, the player himself accepted, “It’s worse than I thought.”

Even after missing 40 games, A-Breg made enough of an impression to receive a monumental honor from his peers. He was a reserve at infield for the American League All-Star team. It was his third career All-Star nod, but more meaningfully, it was his first since 2019 and as a member of the Red Sox.

Alex Cora said the vote by fellow players “means a lot.” Then, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow concurred, squashing even any suggestion that it is a reputation pick. “I think to say that it was the reputation might take away from what he did on the field,” exclaimed Breslow.

Now, this accolade is secondary for Bregman, who just wants to be back on the field. He said he would not play in the All-Star Game in Atlanta. Instead, he posted a hopeful update on his future return. “Whether it’s the end of this week or the first game after the break, one of those two, but I’m hoping it will be the end of this week,” Bregman said Monday.

He still intends to go to the Atlanta match day, hoping to bring his son, Knox, to the Home Run Derby.

However, one of the most ambiguous aspects of his return centers around the rehab assignment. He has a different opinion and feels ready to skip that step. “We still have to have another discussion tomorrow, but I feel like I can go and play and be ready to go,” Bregman explained. But the team remains cautious.

Alex Cora understands that his star is enthusiastic, but as a manager, he said, “If it’s up to him, [he would have been back] yesterday, but obviously, it’s not up to him,” emphasizing that “we need to be smart about it.”

This push-pull dynamic of confidence versus caution illustrates the magnitude of his rehab. The Red Sox are desperate for a cornerstone, but they cannot sustain another major injury.

Navigating the void: Red Sox eyes reinforcements

Prior to the injury, Alex Bregman was the driving force behind the Boston offense. Through 51 games, he was hitting .299 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs, posting a team-leading .938 OPS. At that moment in time, the Red Sox were sitting at an even 26-26 record. Over Bregman’s 40-game absence, the team has managed to stay afloat with a 20-19 record. Now, the need to adapt to his absence put enormous strain on the team’s ability to manufacture runs, especially after the Devers trade, which changed the identity of the franchise.

The Red Sox have been dealing with a large number of injuries this season. But one bright spot is on the horizon. Outfielder Masataka Yoshida is set to make his season debut this week. He had offseason shoulder surgery. In 2024, he put up a line of .280 and 10 home runs. His return adds a consistent bat but also creates what Cora calls a “crowd in the OF/DH equation.”

Beyond Yoshida, there are a large number of players that are out for the season. First baseman Triston Casas is out till 2026 after he broke his patellar tendon. Also, pitcher Kutter Crawford’s season came to an end from wrist surgery. The pitching staff is also getting the very first blow. Tanner Houck, Zack Kelly, Liam Hendriks, and Justin Slaten are all on the injured list with uncertain timelines. And all of that makes the team’s trade deadline strategy even more critical.

As the deadline nears on July 31, Boston’s front office intends to be “buyers.” Their most important need is a powerful first baseman to take over the role of production from Casas and Devers. A reasonable option is Carlos Santana of Cleveland. They also need depth for their starting pitching. Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara, the 2022 Cy Young winner, is a top target on a team-friendly deal. However, acquiring him could involve a significant trade package, possibly an outfielder from Boston’s current surplus.

Wait for three and a half weeks, and we will know for sure…