Red Sox expected to lose Alex Bregman in free agency

The Boston Red Sox just did this dance with Alex Bregman last offseason.

The third baseman had just entered free agency after a standout tenure with the Houston Astros, and the Red Sox battled the Detroit Tigers for Bregman's signature.

In the end, Boston won out with a three-year, $120 million contract.

But that contract was a bit more complex. It featured a lot of the money as deferred cash, to be paid well down the road. And it had an opt-out after the first year.

Because of those combined factors, Bregman opted out this week and is now a free agent.

He'll likely want a similar contract in terms of dollar value but without the deferred money. It's unclear whether anyone will give that to him, including Boston.

"The Red Sox loved their time with Alex Bregman and appreciated all he did on and off the field," The Athletic's Jim Bowden wrote this week. "That said, I’m not sure they’ll be willing to commit to Bregman on a long-term contract at his market price. If they don’t, expect them to let rookie Marcelo Mayer take over at third base with Trevor Story staying at shortstop."

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Story this week chose to opt-in to the 2026 year on his contract, so that would create the opening for the Story and Mayer left side of the infield if Boston lets Bregman walk.

Bregman had a solid 2025 but did miss ample time with injury. As he ages, it's safe to expect Bregman to decline a bit further and potentially encounter more injuries.

At the right price, Bregman could still a boost to any team. But given the money just opted out of, Bregman will be looking for a strong payday. Boston may not be that inclined to give him that, and Bregman might just wind up elsewhere.

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