(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

It apparently wasn't money alone that drove infielder Alex Bregman to choose the Boston Red Sox as he weighed his options in free agency.

The former Houston Astros third baseman signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday, rejecting offers from other teams, including the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs. And on Sunday, in an introductory news conference, he said the decision came down to one thing: a winning culture.

'I'm a winning player. This is a winning organization,' Bregman told reporters about the Red Sox. '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.'

Bregman initially was selected by the Red Sox out of high school in the 29th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. Three years later, he was picked No. 2 overall by the Astros following his time at LSU.

Bregman's contract includes opt-outs after each of the first two seasons, but winning undoubtedly would keep Bregman in Boston.

Manager Alex Cora said Bregman, who won a Gold Glove at third in 2024, might play another position, depending on how spring training pans out with the rest of the infielders on the roster.

'He can play second, he can play short, he can play third,' Alex Cora said. 'He's going to help us.'

The Red Sox finished 81-81 last season and missed the playoffs. They open the 2025 season March 27 on the road against the Texas Rangers.

Bregman is a career .272/.366/.483 hitter with 191 home runs and 663 RBIs in 1,111 games. Now 30, he was an All-Star in 2018 and 2019 and won World Series rings in 2017 and 2022 with the Astros.

--Field Level Media