Now that the Boston Red Sox have already experienced what it’s like to have Alex Bregman in their lineup, it’s a tough pill to swallow knowing they might need him all over again.
Just eight months after inking a three-year, $120 million contract with Boston, Bregman appears poised to hit free agency once more. He’s expected to exercise his opt-out clause following a strong season — and this time, he won’t have to deal with the qualifying offer that limited his market last offseason.
Manager Alex Cora has never hidden his admiration for Bregman’s impact both on and off the field. But for now, even Cora is stuck in a holding pattern, waiting to see how the star third baseman’s next move unfolds.
Alex Cora discusses Bregman’s free agency
On Thursday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora appeared on NESN’s “310 to Left” podcast to discuss Alex Bregman’s looming free agency. While Cora sounded hopeful that the three-time All-Star might return to Boston, he made it clear that the decision ultimately lies in Bregman’s hands.
“I know he’s the only one who knows exactly what he’s going to do,” Cora told hosts Tom Caron and Alex Speier. “But I’m staying positive. He chose us last year for all the right reasons. He wanted to play for a contender, experience Fenway Park, and be part of this organization — and since day one, he’s given everything he’s got. … He and Reagan know what their plans are, and all we can do now is wait.”
Cora’s connection with Bregman goes back years, to their days together with the Houston Astros, making him the person who knows the star third baseman best within the Red Sox organization. It’s hard to ignore that Cora’s presence likely played a major role in Bregman’s decision to come to Boston last winter.
The Red Sox finished 89–73, securing their first postseason berth since 2021 and continuing Bregman’s perfect streak of nine straight playoff appearances. Despite missing 43 games due to a quad injury, he still produced a 3.4 WAR season with a strong .821 OPS.
Given Bregman’s leadership, consistent production, elite defense, and the symbolic impact of his signing on the franchise’s direction, losing him after just one year would be a crushing blow for Boston.
