Alex Bregman has pivoted to considering a shorter-term contract, a sign that he's no longer on the Boston Red Sox radar — and that Boston is no longer interested in trading young first baseman Triston Casas to make room.

According to longtime MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, that inaction might be a ploy from the Red Sox — especially if it leads to a desperate Bregman eventually lowering his contract demands with spring right around the corner.

Boston's seeming resistance to the free-agent infielder doesn't make a lot of sense for a team that could desperately use him.