After months of speculation, Alex Bregman is reportedly planning to opt out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox and become a free agent this winter.
According to Jon Heyman’s bombshell report for The New York Post on Tuesday night, Bregman “will be opting out of his current Red Sox deal, sources say.”
The news doesn’t come as a surprise, especially after MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported earlier this month that Bregman opting out was “a near certainty.”
When the All-Star third baseman and Scott Boras client signed a three-year, $120 million contract with Boston in February — which included player opt-outs after each of the first two seasons — he was widely expected to opt out after this season if he had a good year.
Sure enough, that’s what happened. Bregman bounced back from a down 2024 by posting his highest OPS since 2019 and leading the Red Sox to their first playoff berth in four years.
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After leaving bigger offers from the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers on the table last winter, the 31-year-old will test free agency again and try to land a bigger contract this time around.
Fortunately for Boston, the Red Sox are considered favorites to re-sign Bregman. He enjoyed his time there this year and had a strong season, connecting with fans and immediately establishing himself as a veteran leader among his new teammates.
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Heyman agrees, writing that “Boston still seems like a logical fit.” He added that the Astros and Tigers will likely pursue Bregman again, with the Kansas City Royals being a potential sleeper.
Bregman can’t officially become a free agent until after the World Series ends, so the Red Sox still have several weeks to negotiate with him before he hits the open market, giving them a leg up on the competition. Now that they’re aware of his intentions, hopefully they’ll use that time to their advantage.
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