Boston Red Sox
Bregman will reportedly be searching for a longer — and more lucrative — contract on the open market.
If the Red Sox want to keep Alex Bregman in a Boston jersey beyond the 2025 season, they’re reportedly going to have to dole out another hefty new contract.
According to both Tim Healey of The Boston Globe and Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Bregman will be opting out of his current Red Sox contract and will officially become a free agent this offseason.
Bregman, who will be 32 at the start of next season, had two years and $80 million left on the deal that he originally inked with Boston at the start of spring training in February.
But the writing was on the wall that Bregman’s short-term contract with the Red Sox was likely only a place-holder, given the fact that Bregman had opt-out clauses in place after both the 2025 and 2026 seasons in case he wanted to go to market.
And with Bregman raising his stock once again as one of the leaders on a playoff-bound Red Sox squad, it comes as little surprise that the third baseman plans on hitting free agency in search of a longer (and more lucrative) contract.
“There could be an extra suitor or two, potentially including at least one surprise team,” Heyman said of Bregman’s options in free agency. “Boston still seems like a logical fit.”
Along with the Red Sox, Heyman tabbed the Detroit Tigers as the “most obvious suitor.” Heyman also listed the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners as viable teams for Bregman, along with the Kansas City Royals as a potential surprise team.
Beyond playing a key role as a veteran leader on a younger Red Sox club, Bregman slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs and an OPS of .821 across 114 games with Boston in 2025.
Bregman’s numbers did dip after coming back from a quad injury that sidelined him for seven weeks. After batting .299 with 17 doubles, 11 home runs, and 35 RBI over his first 51 games, Bregman slashes just .250/.338/.386 with seven home runs and 27 RBI over his last 63 games upon returning from his injury.
Still, Bregman’s pop from the right side of the plate, plus defense, and intangibles as a proven winner during his tenure with the Astros should have him set up for a major pay day in free agency.
“We envisioned winning tonight and making a deep run,” Bregman said after the Red Sox’ season came to a close in Game 3 of the Wild Card series against the Yankees. “Proud of the fight in the room. Proud of the guys. It was an honor to put on this jersey.”
Despite Bregman’s odds of being a flight risk this winter, Alex Cora preached plenty of confidence about Bregman’s potential return to the team during an interview on NESN’s “310 to Left” podcast.
“He chose us last year for the right reasons,” Cora said. “He wanted to be on a playoff team. He wanted to play in Fenway Park. He wanted to be part of this organization. Since Day 1, he’s given 100 percent to us.
“Talking to the kids, talking to the veteran players, the way he handled the media, the way he impacted the community — adding all that stuff together, I got to stay positive about it. The kid is a really good player. He’s a great person. He’s a great teammate.”
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