Having failed to find the long-term deal he wanted last time, Alex Bregman is back on the market for the second year in a row, this time without a qualifying offer hanging over its head. The three-time All-Star and two-time world champion opted out of a three-year, $120 million deal with Boston to get here and will accept a lower annual salary to receive the kind of contract for the rest of his career he desires as he enters his age-32 campaign.
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MLB: Playoffs-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB Free Agent Tracker 2025-26: Latest Signings, Top Players and Biggest Offseason Contracts
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Stay on top of the MLB free agent market this offseason, including player signings, contract details and team adjustments as the 2025-26 Hot Stove heats up.
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▶ Bregman in review
Bregman’s first and perhaps only season in Boston couldn’t have started better. After a rough first week, he played in four games in early April in which he hit two home runs, five doubles and 10 RBIs. He was hitting .299/.385/.553 in 51 games when he suffered a strained quad on May 23. Returning just before the All-Star break, his production held up early before declining in late August. He ended up hitting .180/.273/.262 in his final 31 games, lowering his OPS from .933 to .821.
That .821 OPS was good for a 128 OPS+ just shy of Bregman’s career mark of 132. He had an MVP-like high in 2018 and ’19, finishing with a 157 OPS+ those two seasons. He suffered a steep decline immediately afterward, but it made him one of the most stable hitters in the league over the last six seasons. He has a 123 OPS+ during that span, never finishing a season below 112.
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Third-place Bregman’s defense is also consistently above average. He no longer has the range to play shortstop, as he might have done for the Astros in his mid-20s had he not been moved from position to Carlos Correabut he should remain in this position for at least a few more years before perhaps becoming a liability towards the end of the decade.
▶ Market Outlook
Bregman is really the only player in free agency who projects as a long-term third baseman. Maybe Bo Bichette could end up there, but he seems better suited at second base after coming up short. Most teams see Japanese imports Munetaka Murakami And Kazuma Okamoto as first basemen. 34 years old Eugenio Suarez He’ll probably stay third for another year or two, but he’s below average these days.
So, good for Bregman. It probably doesn’t hurt his case either Nolan Arenadothe hottest third baseman on the trade market, very clearly appears to be in decline at this point. Last winter, Arenado was touted as a viable alternative to Bregman before ultimately refusing to waive his no-trade to the Cardinals. But no one will look at them the same way this winter.
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The closest recent free agency roster to Bregman appears to be Matt Chapman two years ago. Chapman, however, faced the qualifying offer and overplayed a bit in a weaker market. He signed a deal similar to Bregman’s, but with a three-year, $54 million guarantee instead of Bregman’s $120 million. He made $18 million in 2024, then, before he could opt out, signed a six-year, $151 million extension to stay with the Giants.
▶ Better adjustments
Red Sox: Boston seemed to like Bregman’s presence on the club and would undoubtedly like to have him back for 2026. The problem is that Bregman will want a contract of at least five years, and the Red Sox won’t think it’s a better idea now than last winter, even if the release of Rafael Devers freed up a lot of money and ended the third base controversy.
Tigers: Detroit seemed like the perfect fit for Bregman last winter, but the Tigers’ longer offer — reportedly six years — didn’t come with a big enough salary to land him. There’s still a pretty obvious match here for now, but it would be much harder to imagine anything coming true if Gleyber Torres accepts a qualifying offer of $22.025 million.
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Dishes: Trading Bregman for Pete Alonso This would hopefully result in significant defensive improvement at two outfield locations for the Mets, assuming that Marc Vientos and/or Brett Baty proves adept at scoring the first goal. Still, that wouldn’t help the offense, and Bregman would likely end up landing a bigger contract than Alonso, if only by a little. Additionally, the Mets have an abundance of quality prospects in the field and might be better off with a short-term solution.
Yankees: The Bombers didn’t really solve the third base problem by trading Ryan McMahonwho only hit .208/.308/.333 after arriving at the deadline. If they are missing Kyle Tucker And Cody Bellingertrying Bregman or Bichette might be their best bet to improve their roster.
Small: The Cubs wouldn’t need to replace Tucker with an outfielder if they lose him; they would probably move Seiya Suzuki right, and they would have some very good outfield prospects in reserve. In fact, they don’t really have any holes in their lineup. Always, Matt Shaw‘s low exit velocity numbers as a rookie were rather discouraging, and if they wanted to move anywhere in free agency, third base would seem to be the best option.
Sailors: Seattle knows contact was an issue in the postseason, and Bregman’s 13.4% career strikeout rate would help a lot. However, it’s hard to see the Mariners offering the roughly $30 million per season it would take to land him.
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Contract prediction
It’s pretty good for Bregman that a group of contenders are currently in motion at third base. Even the Blue Jays could make room for him if Bichette leaves. Or maybe the Phillies could trade Alec Bohm to open the hot corner, although they have their own free agents to deal with. Bregman’s floor would appear to be $140 million over five years, with his annual salary potentially decreasing if he persists in a longer contract.
