Late on Feb. 12, the Boston Red Sox put an exclamation point on their long offseason by signing Alex Bregman to a flexible three-year contract.
After adding Bregman, Walker Buehler, Garrett Crochet and some much-needed bullpen depth this winter, the Red Sox could be a real candidate to win the American League East, and maybe even more. The veteran third baseman balances Boston's batting order with more righty power, vastly improves its infield defense and brings years of playoff experience to the clubhouse all in one move.
Bregman's contract contains opt-outs after the first two seasons, and Fenway Park is the perfect place for him to play on a prove-it deal. He's slashed .375/.490/.750 with a 1.240 OPS over 21 career appearances in Boston and he'll be utterly dangerous in a lineup alongside Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, Triston Casas and more.
The Red Sox haven't had a consistent second baseman in years, and Bregman is now the team's best option for the starting job. Before signing him, Vaughn Grissom, Romy González, David Hamilton and top prospect Kristian Campbell were the Sox's choices for the starting spot on Opening Day. Bregman is fresh off a Gold Glove-winning season and, alongside Trevor Story, Boston's middle infield defense will be impenetrable.
Projecting Red Sox 2025 Opening Day lineup after Alex Bregman's role was revealed
Here's how we think the Red Sox's Opening Day starting lineup will look after the Bregman signing.
- LF - Jarren Duran
- 2B - Alex Bregman
- 3B - Rafael Devers
- 1B - Triston Casas
- SS - Trevor Story
- DH - Masataka Yoshida
- RF - Wilyer Abreu
- C - Connor Wong
- CF - Ceddanne Rafaela
- SP - Garrett Crochet
Duran was one of the best leadoff hitters in the league last season and he'll continue to be a run machine in front of Bregman, who owns a career .366 on-base percentage and usually knocks 25-plus doubles per season. Devers and Casas should be fully recovered from their respective injuries that kept them down or sidelined in 2024 — Duran and Bregman will be surrounded by plenty of pop in Boston's batting order.
Hopefully, Story can post his first full, healthy season in a Red Sox uniform and bring even more right-handed offense to the lineup. Boston doesn't have a full timeline for Yoshida's recovery from labrum surgery, but he's been swinging in camp, so he may be safe to start as designated hitter on Opening Day. Wong posted a breakout season at the plate in 2024 (.280/.333/.425) and Abreu and Rafaela will begin their second full season of big-league action, hopefully with fewer swings and misses than last year.
The Red Sox finally made a necessary big market move to get back into contention in a wide-open American League. Boston's offseason may now be worthy of an "A" grade, as Bregman bolsters the batting order and infield defense while Crochet and Buehler stack the rotation.