Alex Bregman opts for free agency
According to sources close to the matter, Alex Bregman plans to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract with the Boston Red Sox, which will make him a free agent. This decision, although expected, does not rule out a possible return of the experienced third baseman to Boston. However, for now, he will join the group of free agents for a second consecutive offseason. Last offseason, Bregman didn’t find a team until the start of spring training, when he agreed to a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox in mid-February, which included opt-out options after 2025 and 2026. Bregman, 31, had a promising start in Boston, batting .299 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs before suffering a quadriceps injury that kept him out of action from May 24 to July 11. He finished the season with a .273 average, 18 home runs and 62 RBIs. Off the field, he was praised for his leadership on a young Red Sox team that lost in three games to the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Series. After the team’s elimination in the postseason, Red Sox baseball boss Craig Breslow declined to say whether contract talks were already underway with Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras.Boston shortstop Trevor Story also has an opt-out in his contract after signing a six-year, $140 million deal with the team in March 2022. If Story exercises his player option, the Red Sox will have the right to exercise a club option to make the deal worth $160 million over seven seasons.Obviously, Alex has the right, as it is structured in his contract, to terminate it, and he is going to do what is best for his family. At the same time, I will not miss the opportunity to talk about his contributions in the field, in the clubhouse, to the coaching staff, to the front office. In every conversation we have had, I think I have learned something about how his impact and influence have resonated with his teammates.
Craig Breslow
