Alex Bregman reportedly seeking 6-year deal in free agency

Boston Red Sox

The sweepstakes for Bregman seemed to heat up this week.

By Conor Roche

December 19, 2025 | 4:37 PM

2 minutes to read

If the Red Sox want to get a deal done with Alex Bregman as soon as possible, there’s at least one threshold they’ll have to meet in order for him to sign on the dotted line.

Bregman is seeking a six-year contract in free agency as his market is “more robust” than when he was a free agent last offseason, The Athletic‘s Jen McCaffrey reported Friday.

The news of Bregman’s ask comes as the Diamondbacks have emerged as a surprise candidate to steal the All-Star from the Red Sox. The D-Backs are “kicking the tires” on the possibility, USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale reported earlier this week. The Cubs have previously been reported as a possible suitor for Bregman.

It’s unknown what the Diamondbacks’ offer for Bregman is, and it’s also unclear what the Red Sox have offered their third baseman from last season at this point. Boston prioritized re-signing Bregman ahead of the Winter Meetings, when Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso were still available as free agents, The Boston Globe‘s Pete Abraham reported.

Of course, Bregman had sought a deal similar in length when he was a free agent last offseason before signing a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox. In fact, he reportedly turned down a six-year, $171.5 million contract offer from the Tigers. The Astros had also made Bregman a six-year, $156 million offer to try and retain Bregman.

While Bregman will soon be another year over 30 (he turns 32 in late March), one thing working in his advantage this offseason is the lack of a qualifying offer. Without a qualifying offer, whoever signs Bregman won’t need to forfeit draft compensation.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel recently updated his contract projection for Bregman, predicting he’ll sign a five-year, $170 million deal or a six-year deal to help lower the average annual value. The Athletic projected that Bregman would get a six-year, $171 million deal entering the offseason.

Bregman was arguably the Red Sox’ best hitter in 2025. He hit .273 with a .821 OPS, 18 homers, and 62 RBIs in 114 games, replacing Rafael Devers at third base. Bregman, who’ll turn 32 in March, had some struggles down the stretch of the season, though. He hit .187 in the final 27 games of the regular season, adding two home runs with a .581 OPS in that stretch after battling a quad injury earlier in the season.

Still, Bregman was widely viewed as one of the few best free agents available this offseason. He opted out of the two years and $80 million remaining on his contract with the Red Sox.

Beyond his play at the plate, Bregman had a noticeable presence in the Red Sox’ clubhouse. He was frequently seen chatting with rookies Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell throughout the year, with each of them giving Bregman kudos for his leadership and willingness to help.