At 40-40, the Boston Red Sox are currently 1 1/2 games out of an American League wild card spot. Red Sox fans are waiting patiently for star Alex Bregman to return and help the team make the playoffs.
However, a new report from a couple of top MLB insiders suggests that Boston may think about another plan.
Alex Bregman Named as Top Trade Target if Red Sox Make Him Available
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel listed Bregman as the top potential trade target on the market if the Red Sox listen to offers. However, they also believe the chances of Bregman actually getting traded are less than 20%.
Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox last offseason, but he can opt out after the season. A trade suggests that the Red Sox would prefer to get something for Bregman instead of watching him leave for nothing.
Bregman was certainly a lock to opt out after this season before suffering a serious right quad strain, and he still might unless the injury completely derails his season. He was in early American League Most Valuable Player conversations after hitting .299 with 11 home runs, 35 RBIs, and a .938 OPS.
Bregman recently resumed baseball activities and Red Sox manager Alex Cora believes he’ll be back around the All-Star break as long as there aren’t any setbacks.
Alex Bregman loves hitting in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/nVCCohgp4T
— OBV: Baseball Podcast 🎙 (@ObstructView) May 14, 2025
The Red Sox’s recent trade of former face of the franchise Rafael Devers also complicates things. The team was angered by Devers’ refusal to show versatility.
Devers reluctantly moved from third base to designated hitter when the Red Sox signed Bregman, but was unwilling to move to first base when Tristan Casas was ruled out for the year with a knee injury.
The Red Sox are likely to pursue signing Bregman to a long-term deal even if he does opt out after the season. While Boston can pursue alternatives or ask young players like Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer to step up, going into next season without Bregman on the roster doesn’t seem like something that the Red Sox want to happen.
¡Esa pelota no regresa!
Marcelo Mayer la mandó por todo el jardín derecho 🇲🇽💪 pic.twitter.com/1YYNRRQCSl— MLB México (@MLB_Mexico) June 18, 2025
Many Red Sox fans are certainly annoyed with Passan listing the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers as possible fits if the team trades Bregman. The Yankees are currently playing Jazz Chisholm Jr. at third base, who has been fantastic since returning from the Injured List. Acquiring Bregman would shift Chisholm Jr. back to a more natural second-base role and cut into DJ LeMahieu’s playing time.
The Tigers tried to sign Bregman during the offseason and would certainly view him as an upgrade at third base, even as they’ve established themselves as potential World Series favorites.
Colt Keith and Zach Mckinstry have received most of the playing time at third base this season, but the Tigers are waiting on Matt Vierling to return. Vierling has been out since the start of the season with shoulder pain.
While a Bregman trade seems unlikely, the lead-up to the MLB trade deadline will be an interesting one in Boston.