When the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman last February, the clubhouse debate centered on one question: who plays third base? Rafael Devers shifted to DH before getting traded to San Francisco in June. Now, after helping Boston reach the playoffs for the first time in four years, Bregman has opted out of his contract. The leading suitor? The Yankees’ rivals, against whom the clubhouse postseason run ended, are the Blue Jays, who have just reached their first World Series appearance since 1993.

The veteran infielder signed a three-year, $120 million deal with opt-out clauses after the 2025 and 2026 seasons. In 2025, Bregman had a solid season in Boston, hitting .273 with 18 home runs in 114 games, despite missing seven weeks due to a quad strain. He earned his third All-Star selection and ranked seventh among major league third basemen with a 3.5 WAR. Now, he will be testing free agency again. Craig Breslow respected the decision. He stated, “Obviously, Alex has the right, as structured in his contract, to opt out and he’s going to do what’s best for his family.”

Reports from Boston SI now confirm that Bregman will indeed pursue a longer, more lucrative contract on the open market. “The Jays expressed interest in Bregman for much of last winter, but didn’t get around to making an official offer, perhaps because they were more focused on extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr.,” McAdam said. “Now that the Jays have locked up Guerrero, they might be in better position to make another run, although now, they’re in danger of losing shortstop Bo Bichette to free agency. They have other options (Ernie Clement, Addison Barger) for third, but because of their financial resources, shouldn’t be ruled out altogether.”

The Blue Jays expressed interest in Bregman during last winter’s free agency but never made an official offer, likely because they were focused on extending Guerrero Jr. Now that Toronto has locked up Guerrero with a massive 14-year, $500M extension, the franchise finds itself in a stronger position to pursue premium talent.

With Guerrero locked in at first base, Bregman would form a dynamic pairing alongside Toronto’s franchise cornerstone. While shortstop Bo Bichette’s future remains uncertain heading into free agency, the clubhouse have depth options at third in Ernie Clement and Addison Barger.

But for Toronto it won’t be an easy task. Jon Heyman noted the obvious challenge: “Bregman living in Boston is the most likely candidate to sign Bregman or re-sign Bregman… They need a third baseman. He had a nice year, and he’s a great fit with so many young guys around. It’s a perfect match.”

The Red Sox need Alex Bregman. After dealing Devers midseason, BoSox has no established third baseman. Alex Cora also has praised Bregman’s commitment from day one, highlighting his mentorship of younger players and community engagement.

The Blue Jays counter with their own strengths: financial commitment proven by Guerrero’s extension, World Series momentum, and a roster needing another impact bat. Alex Bregman must now decide between Boston’s familiarity and Toronto’s championship window—knowing his next contract will provide the stability he’s been seeking.

If Bregman chooses Toronto, what options do the Red Sox have?

Replacing Alex Bregman, routes the Red Sox can consider

The first choice is to make Marcelo Mayer the full-time third baseman. In 2025, when Bregman got injured, Mayer stepped in and played approximately 250 innings at third base with only one error and great defensive ratings. The downside is that his bat (.228 average, .674 OPS in 44 games) is yet unproven, and he had a hard time hitting left-handed pitchers in particular.

The second option is to go after free-agent third basemen like Eugenio Suarez or Munetaka Murakami. If Alex Bregman leaves, these two are thought to be the best options for the role. Suarez has a lot of power in his right hand (49 home runs last season). But the only drawback is his batting average has gone down recently. Murakami is younger and comes from Japan’s NPB. He has potential, but he might be better off at first base or as a DH.

Getting a replacement through trade is another option. Some names that have come up include Nolan Arenado or Alec Bohm. Arenado, despite a disappointing season and getting older, is still a good defender and may be available for trade with two years remaining on his $42 million contract. If a suitable deal is found, Bohm could be a temporary solution given his youth.

Lastly, the Sox might mix internal possibilities and small moves. They could shuffle existing players or sign lower-tier free agents to create right-handed balance, and allow Mayer or others to spell the position.

Well, Boston has a lot of choices to make: trust a homegrown prospect, spend money in free agency, make a trade, or come up with a mix of all of these. There is risk and reward in each option.