Boston Red Sox
Bregman can opt out of the two seasons remaining on his three-year, $120 million deal this offseason.
Alex Bregman wasn’t willing to make a commitment on his future when he spoke with reporters shortly after the Red Sox’ season-ending loss to the Yankees on Thursday. However, there seems to be a strong expectation about what he’ll do with his player option.
It’s a “near certainty” that Bregman will opt out of the two years remaining on his three-year, $120 million deal this offseason, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported Saturday.
It had been reported on multiple occasions during the 2025 season that Bregman would likely opt out of his deal this offseason. However, most of those reports took place before Bregman’s struggles over the final month of the season. The All-Star third baseman hit .187 in the final 27 games of the regular season, adding two home runs and a .581 OPS in that stretch.
Bregman’s poor stretch at the plate came over a month after he returned from a quad injury that sidelined him for nearly two months. Bregman will also turn 32 at the start of the 2026 season, which seemingly wouldn’t help his market.
But an American League executive expressed to Feinsand that Bregman should still receive a nine-figure deal this offseason.
“I struggle to see him sustaining that level of AAV [annual average value],” the AL executive told Feinsand. “But the total guarantee should be well north of $80 million.”
A different AL executive predicted to Feinsand that Bregman will wind up getting a front-loaded five-year deal.
Bregman had richer offers in total money than what he accepted from the Red Sox as a free agent last offseason. The Astros offered him a six-year, $156 million pact, while the Tigers offered him a six-year, $171.5 million deal.
But as Bregman turned down those offers, he swiftly embraced becoming a leader for the Red Sox and even had talks with the team about a possible extension during the season.
That didn’t come to fruition as Bregman tabled extension talks in August. But he expressed a desire to remain in Boston when he spoke with reporters on Thursday, replying “of course” when asked if he could see himself re-signing with the Red Sox.
However, Bregman also made a bit of an ominous quote.
“We envisioned winning tonight and making a deep run,” Bregman said. “Proud of the fight in the room. Proud of the guys. It was an honor to put on this jersey.”
Even though Bregman struggled in the home stretch of the season, he was arguably the team’s top hitter for most of the year. He hit .273 with a .821 OPS, 18 homers, and 62 RBIs in 114 games.
A pair of Bregman’s teammates advocated for the team to re-sign him following Thursday’s loss.
“You saw the impact that he had on this organization, on the field, off the field, leadership-wise, all of it, man,” Trevor Story said. “And he’s a special player, he’s a special mind, and hopefully we can keep him for a long time. I think it’s a huge priority.”
“Where he ends up, I hope it’s with us,” Garrett Crochet added. “But that’s a guy I’ll root on for the rest of his career.”
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