Alex Bregman has yet to make a decision on his long-term future as he remains a free agent after spending the 2025 MLB season with the Boston Red Sox. Moreover, Boston are getting an urgent message on the veteran infielder after two high-profile free agents have already signed new contracts.
Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso are two big-name players that many would’ve thought the Red Sox would pursue in free agency, considering their question marks at first base. Nonetheless, Schwarber re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, while Alonso joined another American League East team, the Baltimore Orioles.
With both those players off the board, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo believes that the Red Sox need to go all in on Bregman to ensure that he’s back at Fenway Park next season.
“I think he’s a guy that always made sense and makes sense even more now with Schwarber and Alonso off the board,” Cotillo said during a December 16 appearance on MLB Network. “They want to add power—that’s very clear. But they do have holes in the infield.
“I’ve talked to some people within the organization who say, ‘Look, Bregman slowed down offensively with the bat when he came back from the injury a little early, but he won us games with his glove last year, too.’ That’s an underrated part of this for a team that has struggled with infield defense for five or six years now. So I think it might take a little while for them to come to terms on value.”
Red Sox Have to Worry About Other Suitors
Moreover, the Red Sox aren’t the clear favorite to land Bregman and secure his return on a long-term deal. Cotillo noted that other teams are also keen on the former Houston Astros star, which would prevent Boston from reuniting with Bregman.
“I think it’s more likely that he returns than it was a couple of weeks ago when they were pursuing the Alonsos and, to a lesser degree, the Schwarbers of the world,“ Cotillo added. “But he could also have some big offers elsewhere.
“People are worried about the market. The Cubs are involved. The Tigers wanted him a year ago. I could see the Mariners. I don’t know where the money is going to come from, but seeing him as a guy [who] can put them over the edge, I think he’ll have his pick.
“The one thing I think is he’s not going to go for that short-term pillow deal again. I think he’s going to go for the biggest deal, the most amount of years, and have this be, hopefully for him, the last contract of his career. We’ll see if the Red Sox can get to that financial point.”
Cubs Still Have Interest in Alex Bregman
Last offseason, the Chicago Cubs were one team keen on Bregman, and their interest hasn’t gone away. On December 4, The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma reported, citing sources briefed on the team’s offseason planning, that the Cubs have renewed interest in Bregman.
“If they can sign Alex Bregman to play third base, they could move Matt Shaw to second base,“ Bowden said on the December 12 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.” “Trade Nico Hoerner for a starting pitcher or an impact reliever. So that’s kind of what their thinking is right now.”
Red Sox Get Strong Alex Bregman Message Amid Cubs Link