The race to sign free agent third baseman Alex Bregman took up most of the Boston Red Sox's 2024-25 offseason, and the same thing could happen again even after they signed him.
Bregman is widely expected to opt out of his three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox to seek something more long-term. The veteran could easily re-sign with Boston after he quickly developed into a leader in the clubhouse and helped the team return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, but nothing is certain.
MLB insider Jon Heyman of New York Post tabbed the Red Sox and Tigers as the two best fits for Bregman, but he thinks another team may enter the race, which could be extremely troubling for Boston. The New York Mets' 2025 season was incredibly disappointing after their torrid first half and second half collapse — Heyman reports that the Mets could jump in the mix for Bregman, especially if Pete Alonso departs in free agency (subscription required).
"Another issue: The Mets would like to get more right-handed in their lineup, and if they lose Pete Alonso (a real possibility) that’s really a concern," Heyman wrote. "One rival NL exec wondered if the Mets would go for Alex Bregman and move either Brett Baty or Mark Vientos to first base. Bregman would fit as a great defender and clubhouse plus."
Jon Heyman reports that high-spending Mets could join Red Sox in Alex Bregman free agency chase
It would make a lot of sense for the Mets to pursue Bregman while the team's contending window is open. New York likely hopes to win at least one or two World Series with Juan Soto's record-breaking contract on the books, and signing Bregman could be a solid next step. He wields a better bat than Baty or Vientos, who are inconsistent offensively, and his defense is far superior to Vientos' -7 outs above average and sixth percentile range from 2025. Bregman is also a proven winner and perennial playoff contender, and the Mets could've used such experience as they imploded in the second half of the season.
This is unfortunate news for the Red Sox, however, since Mets owner Steve Cohen is the wealthiest in the league. It's currently unclear how much he's willing to pay for top-tier free agency help — especially because re-signing Alonso could be on the table while the payroll is already so high — but he could drive Bregman's price up drastically.
In his report, Heyman noted that a National League executive called Bregman a "perfect fit" in Boston, an easy assessment after his 2025 season. Bregman started his season hitting at a career-defining pace, but his offensive production fizzled a bit after he sustained a quad injury in May. Bregman still finished the season with a .273/.360/.462 slash line, an .822 OPS and 83rd-percentile range at third base over 114 games.
Bringing Bregman back to Boston should be a top priority for the Red Sox front office this winter, no matter which clubs try to get in their way. Bregman has already forged relationships with the Sox's young players, established himself as a leader in the clubhouse and fan-favorite, and he showed the high end of his offensive capabilities at Fenway Park. After trading Rafael Devers in 2025, re-signing Bregman should be a no-brainer for the Red Sox.