Red Sox likely to lose Alex Bregman in free agency

The Boston Red Sox went done a akin concern with Alex Bregman past season.

The third-place player, past 28, had conscionable entered escaped bureau aft a stellar stint with the Houston Astros, wherever helium had built a estimation arsenic a dependable and reliable player. The Red Sox were successful a nonstop conflict with the Detroit Tigers for his signature, showing superior involvement successful keeping him connected their team.

Boston yet succeeded and negotiated a three-year, $120 cardinal deal. However, the woody was a spot much analyzable than it archetypal appeared; overmuch of the wealth was deferred to beryllium paid successful consequent years, and determination was besides an enactment to exit aft the archetypal year.

Due to a operation of these factors, Bregman decided to workout that enactment this week and is present a escaped agent. He volition apt question a declaration of akin value, but without the deferred payments, which further complicates negotiations. It is unclear whether anyone, including Boston, volition connection him that.

Bregman and the future

“The Red Sox person valued their clip with Alex Bregman and each helium has done connected and disconnected the field,” wrote Jim Bowden of The Athletic. 

“Still, I’m not definite they’d beryllium consenting to perpetrate semipermanent to Bregman astatine his marketplace value. If not, expect rookie Marcelo Mayer to instrumentality implicit astatine 3rd base, portion Trevor Story volition stay astatine shortstop.”

Story opted to widen his declaration done 2026 this week, which would unfastened up abstraction for Story and Mayer successful near tract if Boston lets Bregman go.

Bregman had a coagulated 2025 but missed a batch of clip with injury. As helium ages, it’s realistic to expect him to weaken a spot and woody with imaginable caller injuries. His existent signifier and acquisition could inactive beryllium a important summation to immoderate team, particularly astatine the close price.

However, fixed that helium exercised his opt-out option, he’ll beryllium looking for a important fiscal deal. Boston whitethorn not beryllium consenting to connection him that, and Bregman volition apt extremity up connected different team, looking for a spot wherever helium tin get maximum worth for his enactment and talent.