The Boston Red Sox are widely expected to reunite with Alex Bregman for the 2026 season and beyond after the third baseman's second stint in free agency. Despite that prevalent expectation, a few bold reporters and insiders have differed from the pack, noting that Boston could be unlikely to match Bregman's price this time around.
In the event that they're right, the Red Sox will need to come up with a backup plan at third base. Marcelo Mayer could be a solid internal solution, but if Boston plans to use him at his natural shortstop position in the future, they should probably play him there as much as possible while he's still learning in the big leagues.
The Red Sox could also trade for a third baseman to replace Bregman if he departs. Nolan Arenado has been floated multiple times as a solution, but Red Sox reporter Mac Cerullo has proposed a younger World Series champion to fill the possible void at the hot corner.
"Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung is another interesting name who has been floated as a change of scenery candidate," Cerullo wrote in a November 9 mailbag for The Boston Herald. "Jung is a former top prospect who helped lead the Rangers to the 2023 World Series title as a rookie, but this past season he did not take the step forward the club hoped he would as a 27-year-old in his third MLB season."
Red Sox reporter floats Josh Jung trade with Rangers to fill Boston's third base vacancy if Alex Bregman leaves in free agency
Jung isn't a perfect replacement for Bregman by any means. One of the reasons that the Red Sox coveted Bregman so aggressively last offseason is for his winning history and years of MLB experience. Bregman has won two World Series with the Houston Astros and he's a three-time All-Star. Jung is young, much like the rest of the 2026 Red Sox squad, and he has much less experience than Bregman, who was a valuable leader to Boston's top prospects.
Jung also doesn't hit for power like the Red Sox need, and he's already been frequently injured in his young career. The 27-year-old slashed .251/.294/.390 with a .684 OPS, 23 doubles, a triple and 14 homers over 131 games in 2025. The 131 games he just posted are the most he's played in a single season in his career and in 2024 he was limited to just 46 games due to a wrist fracture after he was hit by a pitch.
Jung suits the Red Sox's needs in a few ways. He's a right-handed hitter, so he would bring balance to Boston's heavily left-handed lineup and be suited to Fenway Park's dimensions. He's also fresh off a great defensive season, with five outs above average and 89th-percentile range among third basemen.
Still, Bregman is a better fit for the Red Sox in 2026 and the long-term. If Bregman leaves in free agency and Boston can get Jung for a reasonable price, it should make a trade, but only then.