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Red Sox Could Trade Alex Bregman Amid Contract Questions

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sam Bernardi | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 12:15 PM ET

Alex Bregman should return to the Boston Red Sox shortly after missing a month and a half with a quad strain.

But that does not mean he will be around for the long haul.

Bregman signed with the Red Sox this past offseason on a three-year, $120 million deal, and there is a player opt-out clause after this year. Despite missing so much time, Bregman was still elected to the All-Star Game and could, seeking to capitalize on another productive campaign, head elsewhere for more money.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic had this to say:

“The Red Sox would like to extend Bregman before the trade deadline, but it won’t be easy with Scott Boras as his agent. And, I’m hearing, in my conversations throughout the league, if he’s not extended, they could end up trading him to Seattle, Detroit or Milwaukee. But if I’m Boston and your scenario plays out, I would look to add Emmanuel Clase or Ryan Helsley.”

Boston has been playing much better baseball lately, going 8-2 over its last 10 games to boost its record to 48-45. The Red Sox are still in fourth place in the American League East and trail the leading Toronto Blue Jays by 6.5 games.

Bregman’s return, and his .299 batting average, .938 OPS, 157 OPS+, 11 home runs, and defense at third base could be the key ingredient for a Boston second-half surge. The next few weeks should go a long way in determining whether to buy or sell at the deadline.

If the Red Sox can stay hot, sacrificing a significant package for Clase, or a less substantial package for a probable rental in Helsley, could help them get over the top.

However, as enticing as a late summer push may sound, this is still a flawed Boston team, and accelerating this new window led by Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell could have adverse effects.

Trading Bregman would sour this year’s hopes at a postseason run, but it would also demonstrate a commitment to rebuilding the right way, even if it takes a little longer.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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