Ranking Red Sox 3B Alex Bregman's Landing Spots and Trade Packages amid MLB Rumors
The Alex Bregman signing started the chain reaction that led to the Boston Red Sox trading Rafael Devers, so there's no way they'll also trade Bregman, right?
Don't be so sure about that.
Bregman ranks as the No. 1 trade candidate in MLB for Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN, and his eventual availability seems that much more likely in the wake of Boston's 5-8 record since moving Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Overall, the Red Sox are 42-44 and struggling to score runs.
There will be at least one interested party if the Red Sox do shop the two-time All-Star and World Series champion. According to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, that is the prospect-rich and World Series-starved Seattle Mariners.
Notably, the three-year, $120 million contract that Bregman signed in February does not include a no-trade clause. If the Red Sox find a taker for him, he'll be powerless to stop a deal.
That said, Bregman's trade value is complicated. Let's get more into that before we get to speculating on possible landing spots and trade packages.
What Is Alex Bregman's Trade Value?
1 of 7
Through May 23, Bregman had reestablished himself as one of the top players in MLB.
His first 51 games as a Red Sox had yielded 11 home runs, a .938 OPS and 2.4 fWAR, the latter of which ranked him among the 10 best position players in the league. It was a return to form for the 2019 AL MVP runner-up, who had come into 2025 off a down season in 2024.
Of course, Bregman hasn't played since then because of a right quad injury. That could make suitors reluctant to come forward even if he returns strong, and there's obviously the possibility that he won't.
Moreover, Bregman's contract is heavy and complicated. He is ostensibly making $40 million per year, but $60 million of his $120 million guarantee is deferred to 2035-2046. He technically has about $13.5 million remaining on a $20 million salary, yet he counts as a $31.7 million luxury-tax hit.
Plus, Bregman can opt out at the end of the year. And given the way he started this season, chances are he will.
No matter what happens with the opt-out, Bregman would surely only appeal to win-now teams that could justify such a significant short-term risk. And given his shortage of surplus value—$3.5 million, according to Baseball Trade Values—Boston's best hope of getting real talent back for him would likely involve a trade package with a bad-contract-swap element.
With all this in mind, let the landing spots speculation begin! We'll start with some honorable mentions and then hit on five especially intriguing possibilities for Bregman.
Note: Farm system and prospect rankings are courtesy of B/R's Joel Reuter.
Honorable Mentions
2 of 7
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds have gotten just a .570 OPS from third base, which would be the worst in baseball if not for a certain club on the North Side of Chicago. And yet, it wouldn't be like them to make such a big splash on such an expensive player.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals have Maikel Garcia at third base, but they just plain need a bat and Bregman could be the best possible upgrade out there in the next few weeks. But once again, we're talking about a small-market team that would be unlikely to do something so big amid a disappointing 40-46 season.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have gotten a .601 OPS and only five homers from the hot corner, the latter of which is actually one short of the Reds. Yet they're at best a "maybe" for the pricey Bregman, even if they have a fair deal of money coming off their books this winter.
New York Yankees
The Yankees only just moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to third base, but they'd surely move him back to second if it meant making way for Bregman. But a deal of this magnitude between two longstanding rivals? Yeah, right.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Ernie Clement/Addison Barger platoon has been a fruitful one for the Blue Jays at third base, but this offense frankly needs another big bat before its World Series pursuit can be taken seriously. But as with the Yankees, it's hard to imagine Boston sending Bregman to an AL East rival.
5. Philadelphia Phillies
3 of 7
Record: 50-35
Current Third Baseman: Alec Bohm
Why It's a Fit
Though the Phillies were not in the final running for Bregman in free agency, there was some local buzz about the idea amid an uncertain situation at third base.
Yes, Bohm was an All-Star in 2024. But he also suffered a huge drop in production in the second half and found himself riding the pine at one point in the playoffs. And so far, 2025 hasn't been much better for him.
He is hitting a solid .280 through 82 games, but with only a .390 slugging percentage and no real baserunning value to speak of. He is also down to minus-48 Defensive Runs Saved for his career.
The Phillies should want to do better at the hot corner, and going all-in on a potentially very-short-term upside play on Bregman would fit perfectly with where they are in their contention window.
Trade Proposal: Philadelphia Phillies get 3B Alex Bregman; Boston Red Sox get RHP Taijuan Walker, 3B Alec Bohm, RHP Mick Abel
With $27 million still owed to him, Walker is in this proposal to dull the impact of the luxury-tax hit of adding Bregman for the Phillies. Bohm is included because, honestly, it's probably time for him to have a change of scenery.
In Abel, Boston would also get a pitcher it could slot right into a rotation that has had issues outside of Garrett Crochet. The Red Sox like big stuff, and he can throw 99 with a nasty curveball.
4. New York Mets
4 of 7
Record: 48-37
Current Third Baseman: Brett Baty
Why It's a Fit
The Mets did have interest in Bregman earlier in the 2024-25 offseason but eventually called off the pursuit and resolved their third base conundrum by re-signing Pete Alonso, which forced Mark Vientos back to the hot corner.
Alas, neither he nor Baty has provided much value at the position. The Mets have gotten 0.3 rWAR from third base, which ranks ahead of only five other teams.
Meanwhile, the entire team is in a free-fall with a 3-13 record since June 13. And to hear it from SNY's Andy Martino, an aggressive buying spree could be in order ahead of July 31:
A trade for Bregman would fit the bill and would obviously turn one of the Mets' biggest weaknesses into a significant strength. And for this club more than most, money doesn't figure to be an object.
Trade Proposal: New York Mets get 3B Alex Bregman; Boston Red Sox get DH Starling Marte, RHP Nolan McLean (Mets No. 3)
With $10.4 million still coming to him, Marte would be in this deal partly to balance out the financials. But for Boston, the real point of taking him on would be as a means to effectively buy McLean from the Mets.
Whether the Mets would do such a deal is far from certain, but McLean is the kind of guy the Red Sox should want if they're going to offload Bregman. His slider alone is worth the price of admission, and he's used it to compile a 2.25 ERA in the high minors this season.
3. Detroit Tigers
5 of 7
Record: 53-32
Current Third Baseman: Zach McKinstry
Why It's a Fit
The Tigers were the other finalist for Bregman in free agency, and they even offered him more money in the form of a six-year, $171.5 million contract.
Though the Tigers have risen to the top of the American League anyway, third base is one of several relative weaknesses in their everyday lineup. It has produced a .626 OPS and six homers.
Of course, adding more offense would be but one reason for the Tigers to circle back around on Bregman. The 2024 Gold Glover would also help their infield defense, which has been slightly below average for Outs Above Average.
In reuniting with former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch, Bregman could also further heighten the Tigers' credibility as a winner. Not that they need it at this point, but sometimes too much of a good thing is for the best.
Trade Proposal: Detroit Tigers get 3B Alex Bregman; Boston Red Sox get RHP Alex Cobb, C/1B Josue Briceño (Tigers No. 4)
Cobb has yet to pitch in 2025 after signing a $15 million deal with the Tigers, so he'd be easy to sacrifice from their perspective. And if taking him on meant getting Briceño, the Red Sox would have to seriously consider it.
He is only 20 and still at High-A, but the bat is starting to make some real noise. In 50 games, he has a .994 OPS and 14 home runs.
2. Chicago Cubs
6 of 7
Record: 50-35
Current Third Baseman: Matt Shaw
Why It's a Fit
The Cubs were among the finalists to sign Bregman, reportedly offering him the same guarantee as Boston but spread out over four years instead of three.
Their response to losing out was to pivot to Shaw, who was a hot-shot prospect when he made the team out of spring training. Yet the majors have humbled him, and the Cubs' third base spot is worse off for it.
In fact, Chicago fans might want to avert their eyes at the numbers the Cubs have gotten from the hot corner: .555 OPS and one (yes, one) home run.
As the Cubs are nonetheless the second-best scoring team in MLB, shoring up third base with Bregman would threaten to turn their offense into the league's best. Ideally, that would be their return ticket to the World Series after eight years away.
Trade Proposal: Chicago Cubs get 3B Alex Bregman; Boston Red Sox get DH Justin Turner, OF Owen Caissie (Cubs No. 3)
Turner would be the salary-dump element in this deal, though he would return to Boston with only $4 million left on his $6 million salary.
Caissie would be the real prize for Boston, as he's a power-hitting outfielder with 31 home runs in 192 games at the Triple-A level. But then again, the Red Sox already have an outfield surplus and Caissie has "Kyle Tucker insurance" written all over him for the Cubs.
1. Seattle Mariners
7 of 7
Record: 44-41
Current Third Baseman: Ben Williamson
Why It's a Fit
Let's just say it isn't surprising that the Mariners would be interested in Bregman if the Red Sox put him out there.
He was a fit for Seattle on paper during the offseason, albeit less so when it came to the financials. But as we'll get to in a minute, that part could potentially be mitigated if Bregman were to become a Mariner by way of a trade.
As for the situation at third base, Jorge Polanco quickly proved to be a non-viable option there and Williamson simply doesn't hit enough to justify everyday playing time. In 61 games, he's slugging .306 with a single homer.
The Mariners with Bregman alongside Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez would be a scary team capable of making it to the World Series, which should be the whole idea after 48 years of swings and misses.
Trade Proposal: Seattle Mariners get 3B Alex Bregman; Boston Red Sox get RHP Luis Castillo, 2B Michael Arroyo (Mariners No. 6)
The Mariners would get out of about $60 million in commitments to Castillo if they included him in this deal, which is crucial given their limited spending aspirations.
Mind you, Castillo does have a no-trade clause and there have been whispers that the only reason he isn't a Red Sox already is because the team didn't want to bump up his post-trade pay. If they're going to circle back on him like this, they had better be ready to meet his demands.
It would be worth it if it meant getting Arroyo. He isn't the most notable prospect in Seattle's system, but he might be the hottest. He has a 1.045 OPS since the start of May, and has kept right on raking even after moving from High-A to Double-A.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
