Latest Red Sox rumors suggest they could replace Alex Bregman, crush division rival in one swoop originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Free agency rumors are starting to heat up with the Winter Meetings just a few weeks away. These meetings are where deals with top-tier free agents tend to take place. Against this backdrop, there’s a new rumor, backed by multiple sources, that would be the definition of a rivalry slap in the face.

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Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow says he’s prioritizing a middle-of-the-order bat in his offseason plans. Alex Bregman opted out of his three-year, $120 million contract, leaving a hole at third base. This move was expected; now, Bregman will again be a top target. With the Red Sox needing an infielder who knows the left side of the second base bag, Breslow is rumored to be considering a former AL East teammate.

Looking back, in 2018, Breslow signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he played alongside Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Cavan Biggio. The connection to Bichette and the need for a third baseman make the former Blue Jay shortstop a viable option. The Red Sox adding Bichette would also devastate the fans of one of their AL East rivals.

For context, this past season, Bichette hit .311/.357/.483 with 78 runs, 18 home runs, and 94 knocked in. However, he sprained his knee against the Yankees on September 6, missing the rest of the regular season and both the ALDS and ALCS, but returned for the World Series. Still not fully healthy, he went 8-for-23 with a home run and six RBIs. With Andrés Giménez excelling at shortstop, Bichette moved to second base for the first time since 2019 with Triple-A Buffalo.

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He could handle the keystone for Boston if the Red Sox don’t trust their internal options at second, but he could also replace Bregman at third. With Trevor Story locked in at short and Bichette’s defensive metrics taking a turn for the worse in 2025 (-13 Outs Above Average, -12 Defensive Runs Saved), he’ll need a new defensive home regardless if he joins forces with Breslow again.

Bichette will be a sought-after free agent over the next few weeks. He’s 27 and has been a reliable offensive contributor over his seven-year career, playing in at least 135 games in four of the last five seasons. Perhaps even more enticing for the Red Sox is the thought of taking away a beloved player among the Blue Jays’ faithful.