BOSTON — Alex Bregman’s time with the Red Sox is done after one season.
Bregman agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs late Saturday, as first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post and ESPN’s Jeff Passan. There are no opt-outs in the deal. The Red Sox were said to make an aggressive offer for Bregman but did not land him, leaving a sizable hole in the club’s lineup after a single year.
A reunion with Bregman, who opted out after the first year of the three-year, $120 million deal he signed with the Red Sox in February, was thought to be a top priority for the Red Sox this winter. After trading for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo to fortify the rotation and acquiring Willson Contreras from St. Louis to start at first base, Boston turned its sights to the free agent market, where Bregman and longtime Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette were the top two unsigned infielders. A reunion with Bregman always seemed like the most likely outcome, though other teams — including the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays in addition to the Cubs — pursued the soon-to-be 32-year-old.
The Red Sox were involved in Bregman’s market until the end, a source said, and willing to offer him five guaranteed years. Ultimately, while the Red Sox made what they felt was an aggressive offer to Bregman, the Cubs outbid them by guaranteeing $35 million per year over a five-year term.
At the team’s Fenway Fest event Saturday in Boston, multiple members of the Red Sox stumped for Bregman’s return. Manager Alex Cora, displaying a bit of candor, made it clear that Bregman’s future was in the third baseman’s hands.
“You’ve got to ask him,” Cora said about where things stand with Bregman. “The ball is in his court.”
Bregman, a longtime Astro who won two World Series titles with that club, left Houston after the winter to sign a short-term pact with the Red Sox. He got off to a stellar start in Boston, hitting .299 with 11 homers, 17 doubles, 35 RBIs and a .938 OPS in his first 51 games before suffering a quad strain that kept him out seven weeks. He returned for the final 63 games of the season and hit .250 with seven homers, 27 RBIs and a .724 OPS while at times not looking 100%. In total, Bregman hit .273 with an .821 OPS in 114 games in a Red Sox uniform.
Throughout the season, Bregman discussed how he loved being with the Red Sox and was interested in exploring a long-term arrangement to stay. Still, with a desire to land long-term financial security in the form of a deal that would take him deep into his thirties, he elected to once again hit free agency in November. The short length of his tenure with the Red Sox is sure to raise questions, retroactively, about the controversial June trade of Rafael Devers, who was only displaced — and ultimately, frustrated — because Bregman was brought in. It’s another example of the Red Sox — the only club in baseball to not sign a major league free agent this year — losing out on a bidding war. Once again, after years of clubhouse turnover, Boston is losing key leadership behind the scenes, as well.
“I came up at a time when he was hurt and he was basically like a coach. He was like another hidden coach for me,” Sox star Roman Anthony said Saturday. “When I came up and got into that DH role a little bit after we made that trade, he was sitting next to me every second of the game constantly showing me different things and helping me prepare. I can’t speak highly enough about him and what he does as a leader.”
With Bregman out of the mix, the Red Sox will have to pivot in their efforts to secure another big bat before Opening Day. Bichette remains unsigned and is a clear possibility, though there are other motivated suitors, including the Phillies, known to be interested in him. Trade candidates like St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan and free agents like Eugenio Suárez remain available, too. It’s clear, though, that the Red Sox will have to move to Plan B just over four weeks before spring training begins.
The Bregman decision will also likely increase the importance of Marcelo Mayer in 2026. The 23-year-old, who debuted last season, seems likely to begin the year at either second base or third base, depending on who else the Red Sox acquire. Last season, with Bregman out, Mayer admirably manned third base after debuting, impressing defensively in 39 games (28 starts) at the hot corner. On Saturday, he said he was preparing at both positions as spring training nears.
Bregman’s Cubs will visit Fenway Park to end the 2026 season, as the clubs are set to play each other from September 25-27, on the season’s final weekend.
