The Boston Red Sox are going to face stiff competition in free agency if they want to retain three-time All-Star Alex Bregman.
After spending the first nine seasons of his career with the Houston Astros, Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox. Bregman performed well in his first season in Boston, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs, but is set to test free agency after opting out of the last two years of his contract.
Though staying in Boston is not off the table, Bregman is one of the top free agents available and will have many suitors. The Red Sox will reportedly face even more competition for the 31-year-old star in free agency, with The New York Post’s Jon Heyman sharing that the Blue Jays could be a fit for the three-time All-Star.
“Alex Bregman could be a Jays fit, too, if they’re unable to re-sign Bo Bichette,” Heyman wrote Thursday. “Bregman is in excellent shape with the Tigers and Cubs both with interest and, of course, the incumbent/favored Red Sox.”
The Blue Jays made one of the biggest acquisitions of the offseason so far, signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract, and are expected to remain active after falling just short in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Toronto likely would not be able to sign Bregman if the team is able to come to terms with Bo Bichette this offseason, but having even more competition for the third baseman is not great.
Boston is still viewed as the favorites to bring back Bregman in free agency, but it will be interesting to see if another club manages to poach the 31-year-old All-Star.
More MLB: Red Sox Say Goodbye to Promising Reliever Poached by Rockies in Free Agency