Red Sox favored to beat out Yankees, Tigers, Phillies for $120 million free agent

The Boston Red Sox made a big signing last offseason when they got Alex Bregman in free agency for three years and $120 million.

But with Bregman opting out of his contract now, the Red Sox have no choice but to try and land him again.

ESPN's David Schoenfield wrote Monday that he thinks Boston is the best fit for Bregman this offseason.

"The Red Sox remain the best fit," Schoenfield writes. "He was an important veteran presence for Boston's young position players, and he's a right-handed bat in a lineup otherwise heavy in lefties (Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida). Bregman's age presents some risk on a long-term deal, but although his speed metrics are sinking (17th percentile), he still has good range at third base and brought his OBP back up after it dropped to .315 in 2024."

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Schoenfield goes on to list three other big-market teams that could be in play: the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers.

He views the Tigers as the most likely alternative, given the way they were in on Bregman last offseason.

"Bregman's contact ability makes him a likely fit for the Tigers -- and he'll be too expensive for the Brewers," Schoenfield writes. "The interesting long-shot candidates would be the Yankees and Phillies. The Yankees have Ryan McMahon under contract, but he posted a .641 OPS after coming over from the Colorado Rockies at the trade deadline and his strikeout issues are a concern. The Phillies have Alec Bohm in his final year of team control, but Bohm produced just 1.3 WAR in 2025 and the Phillies are a little tired of his lack of postseason production (.225, 2 HR, 14 RBIs in 38 playoff games). Bregman's fire might be what the Phillies need."

Bregman spent every season of his career with the Houston Astros until 2025.

Now, he's got the option to go to a new team for the second time in as many seasons.

Bregman's decision will have a big impact across baseball.

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