The Boston Red Sox brought in Alex Bregman last offseason, but after just one year, he has decided to opt out of his contract. As one of the top free agents on the market this winter, retaining him won’t come cheap.
Bregman turned in an impressive season for Boston, earning his first All-Star selection since 2019. By opting out of his three-year, $120 million deal—with $80 million still left on it—he’s clearly confident he can land an even more lucrative contract in free agency.
Several teams are expected to pursue Bregman in free agency, but according to Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer, he is to land a six-year, $150 million contract to return to the Red Sox. Bringing Bregman back on a long-term deal would be a smart move for Boston.
In his first season with the team, Bregman posted a .273/.360/.462 slash line over 114 games. Beyond his on-field production, he earned widespread praise for his leadership and played a key role in helping many of the Red Sox’s young players develop and gain confidence throughout the season.
“He’s like a coach, really,” Red Sox rookie Marcelo Mayer said to The Athletic in July. “I can’t really say enough of how much he’s helped not only me and Roman (Anthony), but the whole team. He has people coming in early and watching film, whether that’s me, (Jarren) Duran or whoever it may be. And I think he just sees the game at a super advanced level compared to most people.”
Even when Bregman was injured, he was playing a role in the Red Sox. It is hard to see the Red Sox making the postseason without Bregman’s impact on and off the field.
Bregman is a three-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, a Silver Slugger Award winner and a Gold Glove Award winner. A $150 million contract would rank seventh among third basemen in Major League Baseball. However, if last year’s version of Bregman is what the Red Sox would be getting, it would be worth it.
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