Red Sox Could Target 49-Home-Run Slugger as Alex Bregman Replacement

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Alex Bregman #2 of the Boston Red Sox acknowledges the crowd in his first return to Houston since being traded to the Red Sox, before action against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on August 11, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

As the Boston Red Sox get prepared for the offseason, the focus will be on what the organization wants to do with Alex Bregman.

Bregman dealt with an injury early in the season a year ago, but was seemingly an excellent fit in Boston. He finished the season hitting .273 with 18 home runs, including 62 RBIs and 118 hits.

In the postseason against the New York Yankees, he had three hits in 10 at-bats.

If the Red Sox are unwilling to pay Bregman because they’re satisfied with the younger approach the organization appears to be taking, it might not be the worst idea to let him walk.

If that’s the case, or Bregman simply wants to leave, Curt Bishop of Sports Illustrated believes Eugenio Suarez of the Seattle Mariners could be an ideal option. Suarez had a great year, but struggled a bit in the second half for the Mariners. He’s a free agent this winter.

“The Red Sox will be trying to retain Alex Bregman this offseason. He opted out of the final two years of his contract with Boston. Chances are that he stays, but Boston needs a fallback option in the event that he leaves.

“This is where Suarez comes into play. His right-handed power swing could play well at Fenway Park with the Green Monster, and the Red Sox should be able to afford the 34-year-old slugger as they try and build off of their 2025 success. Bregman may be the top choice, but if they lose him and end up with Suarez, they should ultimately be okay for 2026,” he wrote .

Do the Red Sox Want to Pay Alex Bregman?

The Boston Red Sox will have to decide whether they want to give Bregman a ton of money or allow someone like Suarez to come in and hope that he plays as well as he did in the first half of last year for a cheaper price.

During the 2025 campaign, Suarez was one home run shy of a 50 with 49, including 118 RBIs.

Regarding what Bregman could get in free agency, which could be the deciding factor for the Boston Red Sox, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report predicted that he’d land a five-year, $175 million deal.

“Alex Bregman was one of the final free agency dominos to fall last winter, with speculation of a return to the Houston Astros or a reunion with manager A.J. Hinch in Detroit swirling before he eventually inked a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox…

“Predicted Contract: 5 years, $175 million A $35 million AAV would match the figure that Anthony Rendon received from the Angels, and for a player who has piled up 43.1 WAR over 10 seasons in the big leagues, it’s a reasonable ask over a five-year contract,” he wrote .

Alex Bregman Will Look to Test Free Agency

Bregman hasn’t officially opted out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox, but according to the latest report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post earlier in the month, the expectation around the league is for him to do so.

Heyman added that his fit with the Red Sox seems obvious, although there might be one or two other teams in Pursuit.

“Alex Bregman will be opting out of his current Red Sox deal, sources say, and off his fine first year in Boston, there could be an extra suitor or two, potentially including at least one surprise team (mentioned below) — although Boston still seems like a logical fit,” he wrote .

Jon Conahan covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Since 2019, his sports coverage has appeared at Sports Illustrated, oddschecker, ClutchPoints and Sportskeeda. More about Jon Conahan