The first baseman, who was NLCS MVP during Milwaukee's World Series run and once planned to retire after 2024, is heading to Boston.
Jake Bauers is leaving Milwaukee for Boston. The first baseman and the Red Sox have agreed to a four-year, $58 million contract, according to sources, closing the book on a stunning turnaround season for the 31-year-old.
Bauers was reportedly set on retiring after the 2024 season. Instead he stuck around, broke out with the Brewers, and ended up winning NLCS MVP as part of Milwaukee's dominant World Series run. That postseason performance turned him from a fringe roster piece into one of the more sought-after free agents at his position, and the Red Sox were willing to pay for it.
The deal lands Bauers in the AL East, a sharp change of scenery from the team he just helped carry deep into October. For Boston, it adds a left-handed bat to the infield mix after a season in which Bauers proved he could still hit at a high level when given the opportunity. For Milwaukee, it means saying goodbye to one of the central figures of its championship run just months after the celebration ended.