The Boston Red Sox are in a spot where every game matters. And in the midst of their playoff push, doubts have started creeping over the future of Alex Bregman. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Bregman is “bound to get the five-year-plus deal at an average annual value of $35 million-plus that eluded him last winter.” And this claim has put the rumor mill into overdrive.

So, when team president Sam Kennedy joined WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Thursday, he was asked about it directly. “We were all surprised by that report (Passan) given that we just haven’t had discussions with Alex about anything other than the goal at hand right now with what’s in front of us these next 15 games,” Kennedy said about the Passan report.

Kennedy continued, “That will all take care of itself. He wants to be here. We want him to be here. I’ll leave it at that. He’s such an important part of this season and what we’re doing. All focus right now are on these next 15 games.”

For now, as Sam Kennedy said, the focus is squarely on the playoff push. Boston sits at 81-66, just a half-game behind the Yankees in the Wild Card race, but the road ahead is difficult: they will face the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Tigers, with all teams fighting for the postseason, the margin for error is gone. So, “If we don’t win these games, we’re not playing in October,” Kennedy said.

Interestingly, Kennedy’s words echo what Bregman himself and CBO Craig Breslow have already said before.

Alex Bregman and CBO Craig Breslow give hints on the former’s future in Boston

Alex Bregman told The Boston Globe: “Obviously, we’re open to talking when the season is over. But for the next few months, I’m just really focused on the baseball.” Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow echoed a similar sentiment,  saying, “We’ll continue to watch that situation unfold and have the conversations that we need to have with Alex, as appropriate and when appropriate.” Their words reflect one thing: The focus is now, not next winter.

Though the current front office has shown some willingness to spend on talents like Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, and awarded All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman with a $13.3 million extension for 2026, the scars of the past remain. Mookie Betts had to be traded when Boston refused to stretch to $365 million, and most recently, Xander Bogaerts walked to San Diego with an 11-year, $280 million deal. And Jon Lester’s exit in 2014 still stings, and even Lester admitted on WEEI that an offer around 6 years and $120 million would have convinced him to sign an extension with the Red Sox, but it didn’t happen in time.

That history matters when looking at the present, because if there’s one thing Bregman has proven, it’s that he doesn’t hand out hometown discounts. He declined the Houston Astros’ reported six-year, $156 million offer to test free agency even after spending nine incredible years with the club.

So, after his third All-Star campaign, where he slashed .279/.362/.474  with 16 home runs and 57 RBI, and 129 OPS+ (best since 2022), Boston must pay him the premium if they want to keep him. And they need to act fast, as other teams are smelling blood and circling around.