Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million deal last offseason but opted out, hoping to find a better deal on the open market. It will be tough for him to find a higher average annual value, but he should be able to find a lucrative deal with more years attached to it. MLB insider Jon Heyman predicted a seven-year, $172 million deal for the veteran third baseman.
“He helped himself with a nice year in Boston, which almost has to bring him back,” Heyman wrote of Bregman on Monday. “He’s that good a fit.”
Bregman was raved about as a leader in the clubhouse, but what he did on the field was equally important. He slashed .273/.360/.462 in 114 games. It was his best season since he was an All-Star in 2019 with the Houston Astros.
His injury slowed him down a bit, but he was still a great player for the Red Sox. It was also evident that he was a high character addition early into his Red Sox tenure. During the drama surrounding Rafael Devers and the third base position, Bregman made it very clear he was ready to do whatever it took to help the team win, even if that meant changing positions.
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With Devers gone, the Red Sox have some money to spend, and spending it on Bregman would be a great choice. He has hit well at Fenway Park throughout his career, posting a .898 OPS in 77 games, so keeping him in Boston long-term would be wise.
A seven-year, $172 million deal would rank sixth among third basemen in terms of total value, length and average annual value.
