The Boston Red Sox went through a lot of obstacles to win the Alex Bregman sweepstakes last offseason, and it’s paid off in a huge way. Bregman has been one of the best players on the roster all season.

But the star infielder has an opt-out in his contract, and he’s expected to use it and head back to free agency this winter.

MLB’s Mark Feinsand recently listed the Detroit Tigers as one of the top potential landing spots for Bregman if he opts to head back to free agency in the offseason.

“After waiting out the winter for the right deal, Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million pact with the Red Sox that included $60 million in deferrals and opt-outs after both 2025 and ’26,” Feinsand wrote. “Injuries have limited Bregman to only 81 games this season, but he’s performed well when he’s played, posting a .917 OPS with 16 homers. Even with the missed time, he’s on pace for his fourth straight season with an fWAR of at least 4.0, so it won’t be a shock if he opts out in search of a longer deal.”

The Tigers were closely linked to Bregman last offseason because of his connection to manager A.J. Hinch. Hinch was the Houston Astros manager with Bregman on the roster for a few years in the late 2010s.

The Red Sox will likely prioritize Bregman over anybody and anything else this winter, so stealing him from Boston is going to be an uphill battle for anybody. But with the Tigers expected to be aggressive in free agency, this fit could make a lot of sense.