Where Will Alex Bregman Sign? Red Sox Reportedly Face Competition from Cubs, More

The Boston Red Sox "won't close the door" on re-signing Alex Bregman despite depth at third base and competition from other clubs, MLB insider Jeff Passan reported Tuesday for ESPN.

The Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies are potential rival suitors to sign the 31-year-old third baseman this offseason, Passan reported.

The Tigers and Cubs were both tied to Bregman last offseason before he signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox ahead of the 2025 campaign.

The contract featured opt-outs after the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Bregman took the first one in order to test free agency without the qualifying offer, and attached compensatory draft pick, that may have limited his options after his 2024 season with the Houston Astros.

MLB.com's Ian Browne reported earlier this month that Bregman is likely to seek a contract stretching at least five years "with a team that projects to be in the mix through the life of the contract."

The Cubs made Bregman a four-year, $130 million offer last winter, while the Tigers put a six-year, $171.5 million contract on the table, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The Cubs may need to add to that offer should the team decide to pivot from third baseman Matt Shaw, while the Tigers could need to add money to theirs in order to address a position that was a weakness for the team in 2025.

The Phillies have Alec Bohm at the hot corner, but he's only under team control for one more year. MLB Network's Jon Morosi recently said he felt the Phillies would only move Bohm if the club felt there was a possibility of bringing in a player of Bregman's caliber.

That could mean the Phillies would be willing to put up a long-term offer of their own in order to contend with the Cubs, Tigers and Red Sox as a suitor for Bregman.

Should the Red Sox bring Bregman back on a long-term contract, the franchise will need to answer some questions about their plans for 2021 No. 4 pick Marcelo Mayer.

Mayer made 34 of his 44 appearances during his rookie season at third base, mostly while Bregman was sidelined for almost two months with a right quad strain, before undergoing season-ending wrist surgery in August.

Although the 22-year-old mainly plays at shortstop in the minor leagues, the Red Sox already have that position filled by Trevor Story.

Story, who recently opted in to another two years with the Red Sox, is expected to "remain entrenched" at shortstop going forward, per Browne.

If Bregman departs for another club in free agency, that could open a spot in the lineup for Mayer. He would potentially then head into 2026 as part of a third-base platoon alongside a right-handed batter, according to Browne.

In that case, however, the Red Sox may need to target another productive slugger in free agency. Bregman ranked fourth on the team with 118 hits and third with 18 home runs despite missing 48 games last season.