Most MLB reporters and insiders have concluded that Alex Bregman is nearly certain to opt out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox. Last winter, he signed a three-year, $120 million deal, and it's widely believed that he'll take to the free agent market in search of the longer-term deal he sought before.
Red Sox insider Rob Bradford of WEEI and the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast has recently come out as a dissenting voice in the Bregman opt out discussion. He doesn't think Bregman's choice is as clear as many reports have made it seem.
"The Red Sox need to figure out the Bregman situation, first and foremost. While murmurs around baseball keep suggesting it will be almost certain that the third baseman opts out of his deal, some in the organization still believe there is a good chance he stays," Bradford wrote on October 7.
It's been widely reported that Bregman loved his time in Boston. He could opt out of his contract just to re-sign with the Red Sox on a longer-term deal, which is in the team's best interest since it traded Rafael Devers away in June.
Red Sox insider suggests Alex Bregman may be more willing to remain with Boston than many reports say
Craig Breslow on the opt-out in Alex Bregman's contract and his importance to the Red Sox.
— NESN (@NESN) October 6, 2025
🎙️ “I will not miss an opportunity to talk about his contributions on the field, in the clubhouse, to the coaching staff, to the front office…” pic.twitter.com/14sQvn50gJ
It's reassuring that some members of the Red Sox organization are confident that Bregman will return, although Bradford didn't specify who believes that, nor their standing in the organization. It's possible Bregman has kept his true intentions for this offseason from the public, but he's been more open with his agent and the Red Sox organization.
Bregman may want to stay in Boston because other teams could be less willing to sign him to the long-term deal he desires after his season with the Sox. The veteran spent six weeks on the sidelines with a quad injury and played at less than 100 percent health for the few weeks after. His offensive production suffered after his return (he slashed .298/.380/.546 with a .926 OPS before the All-Star break and .250/.341/.386 with a .727 OPS after), and his late-season slump could deter some teams from his market.
Bregman only posted 114 games in 2025 and he'll be entering his age-32 season this coming year. Clubs may be concerned about his durability at this stage in his career, and it could be hard to find a team willing to beat the $40 million average annual value of his contract with the Red Sox.
Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow sang Bregman's praises in the front office's end-of-season press conference on October 6, and Bregman said after the Sox's playoff loss to the Yankees that it was an honor to don the uniform. Both sides have been clear about their openness toward a potential reunion, and the confidence that some members of the Red Sox organization have that a deal will get done should reassure fans who fell in love with Bregman as a player and leader this season.