Breaking News: Alex Bregman Opts Out with Red Sox

Joseph McLaughlin
2 days ago
3 min read

Photo Caption: Alex Bregman hitting a sacrifice fly to score a run against the Tampa Bay Rays during spring training on February 26, 2025. Photo Credit: Gerald Herbert/AP Photo.

Boston Red Sox Third Baseman Alex Bregman has officially declared that he will be opting out of his three-year $120 million deal with the team on Monday, per a report from the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham. The move places Bregman as a free agent going into the 2026 MLB season, leaving two years and $80 million on the table.

This is not a huge surprise, as a report showed that Bregman was interested in opting out of his contract earlier in October; however, it shakes up the MLB offseason for not just the Red Sox but also many other teams. Now that Bregman is a free agent, many teams are circling, interested in signing him.

Bregman, a 2025 All-Star, signed the three-year deal with the Red Sox, while turning down larger free agent contracts, with hopes to boost himself from a stronger platform season and support him in a second round of free agency. He certainly got that season, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 28 doubles in 495 plate appearances with the Red Sox.

It was not all great for Bregman as he only played 114 games with the Red Sox due to a sustained quad injury in the summer. The injury, plus his age, make him a question mark for interested teams, yet he has still proven to be a great selection for the third base position.

Now, a couple of questions remain for both parties. For Bregman, it is who he will sign with next season, and for the Red Sox, it is who will play third base with Bregman gone and Rafael Devers being traded to San Francisco halfway through the season.

Starting with Bregman, a couple of teams stand out as potential landing spots. The Detroit Tigers pursued Bregman last offseason and could use the bat after a heartbreaking playoff exit to the Seattle Mariners in a 15-inning Game 5. Another team whose playoff push came short was the Chicago Cubs, after falling to the Milwaukee Brewers in five games. Both teams could use the powerful bat and skilled glove of Bregman to bolster their 2026 rosters.

The Red Sox saw firsthand how valuable Bregman was at third base and now find themselves looking to fill that void. A name that immediately jumps out is Marcelo Mayer, who started 20 games at third base for the injured Bregman in his rookie season. With experience at the position and him being one of the Red Sox’s top prospects, he is the likely choice. However, names like Eugenio Suarez, Bo Bichette, and Munetaka Murakami could be potential acquisitions not only for the Sox but for other interested parties as well.

Wherever the Red Sox go with the third base position, Bregman’s time with the Sox was memorable for players and fans alike. He instantly became a favorite player among many Red Sox fans, and from Boston’s perspective, it is tough to see him leave.

However, the Red Sox have a lot of young talent that was brought up this season, such as Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Christian Campbell, who all helped the team make it back to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Boston has a bright future with these young stars, and it will be interesting to see where the team goes in 2026.