MLB Insider: Red Sox’s Alex Bregman’s ‘Perfect’ Free Agency Fits Include AL Rival

It’s no secret that Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman expects to opt out of his contract following the 2025 World Series. It’s also no secret that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow would love to re-sign the three-time All-Star.

However, it’s also no secret the Red Sox won’t be the only club interested in Bregman’s services.

“Complicating matters for the Red Sox, though, are the teams in need of better production at third that might be willing to spend for what Bregman provides,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported last week. “The Phillies. The Yankees. The Tigers. And it will take more than three years this time even though he’ll be going into his age-32 season.

“After one of the more lucrative pillow contracts ever, Bregman is bound to get the five-year-plus deal at an average annual value of $35 million-plus that eluded him last winter,” Passan concluded.

However the New York Post’s Jon Heyman sees Bregman remaining in Beantown.

“I think he fits Boston perfectly with that ballpark, young team, a great leader. He makes incredible sense,” Heyman said Saturday on MLB Network. “I mean, obviously he was out for a while with an injury  … The teams that were interested in him previously were the Tigers and Cubs. Beyond the Red Sox … certainly the Tigers and other teams looking at third base could be a fit. It does feel like Boston is the best.”

Despite missing two months with a quad strain, Bregman is tied for third on the Red Sox with 16 home runs and is fourth among Boston’s position players with a 3.3 WAR.

The 31-year-old veteran has been a mentor to some of the Red Sox’s younger players, including rookie stud Roman Anthony.

Bregman helped the Houston Astros win a pair of World Series titles before signing with the Red Sox in February, landing a three-year, $120 million contract with opt outs.