MLB insider: Red Sox are ‘most likely’ team to sign Alex Bregman this offseason
"Why would he leave? Maybe he will if he gets a much better offer somewhere else. But I mean he is a great fit for Boston."
Alex Bregman appears headed back to free agency this winter.
Bregman is reportedly opting out of the final two years of his contract with Boston in search of a long-term (and more lucrative deal) after a strong 2025 campaign with the Alex Cora’s club.
Given Bregman’s pop from the right side of the plate, his strong defensive work at the hot corner, and his veteran presence as a two-time World Series champion, several teams will likely be lining up to reward the 31-year-old infielder with a sizable payday.
But speaking on Bleacher Report, Jon Heyman of The New York Post stressed that the Red Sox should still be considered the leaders in the clubhouse when it comes to retaining Bregman over the coming months.
Beyond Bregman’s familiarity with Boston and manager Alex Cora, Heyman noted that the Red Sox have plenty of spending power available — especially after the team cleared some money off its books earlier this summer via the Rafael Devers trade to San Francisco.
“Everything’s worked out great in Boston with Bregman. So just because he’s opting out doesn’t mean he’s leaving. Why would he leave? Maybe he will if he gets a much better offer somewhere else. But I mean he is a great fit for Boston,” Heyman said on Bleacher Report. “That city, that ballpark with the Green Monster. He had a nice year. So many young guys. It’s great to have a veteran of the playoffs.”
Heyman also listed the Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners as viable teams for Bregman, along with the Kansas City Royals as a potential surprise team.
Detroit made a legitimate push for Bregman last summer, with the third baseman reportedly turning down a six-year contract with the Tigers before opting for a three-year deal with Boston that included two opt-out clauses.
Still, Heyman believes the Red Sox aren’t going to let Bregman walk, especially after moving on from their best power hitter earlier this year in Devers.
“Boston is the most likely candidate to sign Bregman, or re-sign Bregman. Great fit,” he later added. “They have the money from Devers. They need a third baseman. I do think Boston is No. 1.”
In his first (and potentially lone) season with Boston, Bregman slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs and an OPS of .821 across 114 games.
The veteran’s production did take a hit after coming back from a quad injury that sidelined him for seven weeks. After batting .299 with 17 doubles, 11 home runs, and 35 RBI over his first 51 games, Bregman slashed just .250/.338/.386 with seven home runs and 27 RBI over his last 63 games once he returned to the diamond.
Earlier this week, Red Sox manager Alex Cora shared Heyman’s optimism about Bregman’s affinity for Boston — adding that he was “staying very positive” about Bregman’s looming decision during an interview on NESN’s “310 to Left” podcast.
“He chose us last year for the right reasons,” Cora said of Bregman. “He wanted to be on a playoff team. He wanted to play in Fenway Park. He wanted to be part of this organization. Since Day 1, he’s given 100 percent to us.
“Talking to the kids, talking to the veteran players, the way he handled the media, the way he impacted the community — adding all that stuff together, I got to stay positive about it. The kid is a really good player. He’s a great person. He’s a great teammate.”
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