Alongside the team's postseason hopes, Alex Bregman's impending contract opt out is at the forefront of Boston Red Sox fans' minds.
After his 2024-25 free agent market was smaller than expected and he missed out on the long-term offer he initially hoped for, the third baseman signed a three-year, $120 million contract with opt-outs after each season. Bregman and his family quickly fell in love with Boston, and Sox fans hoped that would be enough to keep him from opting out. Experts' opinions and a (mostly) great offensive season from Bregman have all but quashed those hopes.
MLB insider Robert Murray of FanSided agrees that Bregman will almost certainly opt out of his contract with the Sox. Murray included Bregman in his list of impending free agents who are sure to be overpaid this winter.
"I was really surprised how much the report took off that Bregman was set to opt out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox. Isn’t that obvious?" he wrote. "...But a player of Bregman’s caliber and his performance in a big city is going to put increased eyeballs on him. Remember what Andrew Friedman once said about free agency: 'If you’re always rational about every free agent, you will finish third on every free agent.'"
MLB insider Robert Murray believes Red Sox's Alex Bregman will be among highest paid free agents of this year's class
Bregman posted an excellent start to his first season with the Red Sox, and quickly established himself as a leader on and off the field. The veteran is slashing .273/.356/.464 with an .820 OPS over 107 games, and his offensive success is sure to catch the eye of any club in need of help at the hot corner. He's also one year removed from a Gold Glove win, and he's no slouch defensively, either.
ESPN insider Jeff Passan made a similar point to Murray, and noted that Bregman is sure to opt out of his contract with Boston, "Barring an injury or catastrophic slump." Bregman has struggled at the plate down the stretch, and it's putting a serious damper on the Sox's Wild Card hopes. The 31-year-old is slashing .207/.295/.267 in his last 30 games. His season was also cut a solid six weeks short by a quad injury in the spring.
Still, Bregman is an ideal fit at third base for the Red Sox. His swing is made for Fenway Park, and after trading Rafael Devers, the Sox don't have a backup plan. Marcelo Mayer played a great third base while Bregman was sidelined with his injury, but besides him, Boston doesn't have another option, and Mayer is injury-prone himself.
Bregman could opt out and re-sign with the Red Sox on a long-term deal, which would be the best outcome for his expected impending free agency. Since Boston doesn't have another third baseman to play in his stead, Murray's assessment that Bregman will be overpaid this offseason is nearly certain — the Red Sox will be desperate, and any other suitors will have to beat them out for his services.