Alex Bregman has quietly put together another strong season, racking up 98 hits with a .298 average and a .385 OBP over 326 at-bats. He’s added 16 home runs and 53 RBI, proving once again that he’s a steady force in any lineup. So, for the Red Sox, he’s been exactly what they hoped for. A reliable bat and a veteran leader who’s had just as much impact in the clubhouse as he has on the field. But the big question is what comes next.

“I do think Alex Bregman is likely to opt out even if he does enjoy it in Boston.” Jeff Passan shared his thoughts on the Just Baseball Show podcast on Monday.

Reportedly, Bregman and the Red Sox agreed to a three-year, $120 million deal that includes opt-outs after each season. Those opt-outs hang over the team like a cloud. And now Boston is being told it’s time to get serious about keeping him around for the long haul.

So, amid the insiders’ projection about Bregman’s probability of hitting free agency, the Red Sox need to race against time to retain him.

“While this isn’t much of a surprise to many who follow the Red Sox, it doesn’t feel great to hear from one of baseball’s most trusted insiders that their star player wants to hit the open market after just one season with the club. This just reaffirms that the front office needs to get Bregman and agent Scott Boras back at the negotiating table to work out a long-term deal,” Fansided’s Brian Burrows shared why the Red Sox need to get along with Bregman.

Yes, arguments are there about the Red Sox’s success post-Rafael Devers’ exit. But make no mistake, Devers and Bregman, while both from 3B, are not the same. Since 2017, Bregman has stacked up +21 defensive runs saved and +26 outs above average. In contrast, Devers sits at -62 DRS and -28 OAA over that same stretch, per MLB.com.

Now, the challenge for Boston is that Bregman is reportedly seeking more than $40 million per year on a long-term deal. That’s a big number, but the Red Sox are in the driver’s seat to keep him, and they should be. His impact has been huge, ranging from his steady production to his leadership role and mentoring teammates. And at this point, Bregman has been worth every penny. And chances are, he’ll be worth whatever it takes to lock him up moving forward.

The Red Sox are already working behind the scenes for Bregman

Don’t assume that the Red Sox gave up on Bregman. Reportedly, they are working on sourcing a $200 million pool projected to be the new contract value for Bregman.

“Boston has a roster crunch. Even if they let Bregman walk, the team clearly does not want Yoshida in the field. Trading Yoshida away to a team that would actually appreciate and use his talents would free up $18.6 million a year through 2027 and could be the difference between being able to sign Bregman and not,” Fansided’s Eric Cole shared.

Well, Masataka Yoshida’s power just hasn’t carried over to MLB the way it did in Japan. For example, back in NPB, he was good for 20-plus homers a year, but in more than 250 MLB games, he’s managed only 27! Moreover,  this year he’s hitting .233 across 31 games, with only 2 HRs. And on top of that, his strikeout rate has climbed to 16.8%, up from 14% in 2023.

Hence, moving him could make sense for Boston. Trading Yoshida wouldn’t just free up money, but would also open up the DH spot. It would help clear some of the roster logjam. Yoshida is in the middle of a five-year, $90 million deal, which comes out to about $18.6 million annually through 2027. Shedding that contract wouldn’t completely solve the financial puzzle. But it would give the Red Sox more flexibility to absorb Alex Bregman’s hefty price tag.

So, could the Sox DFA him to make room for Bregman? Maybe. But with Boston, you never really know until the move is actually made.