MLB Insider Doubts Alex Bregman Trade From Red Sox Amid Rumors, 'Preposterous'

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal is not impressed by what he described as "preposterous" rumors that the Boston Red Sox will consider trading Alex Bregman this season.

Rosenthal wrote that Bregman "is critical to the equation, both on and off the field" in Boston.

"His return comes at a perfect time, with the Sox finally rounding into form," Rosenthal wrote. "Even if they go 5-10 in their final 15 games before the deadline – doubtful, the way they are rolling – they likely still will be in contention in a flawed AL."

The Red Sox have climbed into range of an AL Wild Card spot after winning nine of their last ten games.

Manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Bregman is set to play this weekend for the first time since suffering a strained right quad in May, per ESPN.

Rosenthal went on to point to a report from The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey, who recently wrote about how Bregman has remained a clubhouse leader during his time on the IL, as an example of why the Red Sox will not move on from their star infielder.

He also noted that the Red Sox would have difficult finding "appropriate value" for Bregman given the structure of his contract.

Bregman joined the Red Sox ahead of the 2025 season after signing a three-year, $120 million deal with the club in free agency. The contract includes potential opt-outs after the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

The former Houston Astros star also had offers from the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, but went to Boston in order to take the highest average annual salary, per MLB.com's Ian Browne and Manny Randhawa.

A slow start to the season, which saw the Red Sox leading MLB in strikeouts 18 games into the campaign, led to trade rumors surrounding Bregman just months into his contract.

Those rumors were exacerbated by the Red Sox's decision to move on from star infielder Rafael Devers by trading him to the San Francisco Giants in June.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden, who recently conducted an anonymous poll of MLB front offices, ranked Bregman as one of the players most mentioned by executives as potential trade candidates at the deadline.

"Some execs believe the Red Sox could move on from Bregman at the trade deadline if they can’t extend him by then," Bowden wrote.

Bowden added: "If the two sides can’t work out a deal, don’t be surprised if Boston trades him to either the Tigers or Mariners at the trade deadline."

Bregman's agent, Scott Boras, told Tim Healey of the Boston Globe in June that his client was "open to any conversation" regarding an extension. Bregman said several days later he was on the "same page" as Boras.

WEEI's Rob Bradford reported on Thursday, however, that the Red Sox have yet to begin extension negotiations with Bregman.

The Red Sox's ability to remain in AL Wild Card contention in the 15 games before the trade deadline, which could potentially be boosted by Bregman's return, could influence how the club approaches July 31.