This story originally appeared in the Globe’s Sunday Baseball Notes. Read the rest here.
The Red Sox have signed — in order — Kristian Campbell, Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, and Aroldis Chapman to contract extensions this season.
Is Alex Bregman next? It’s not so simple.
The third baseman holds a $40 million option for 2026 and another at the same price for 2027. It’s very likely he returns to free agency after the World Series knowing the Red Sox need him back and that the Tigers still covet him after making a determined bid last winter.
The Mets, Phillies, Rangers, and Yankees also need upgrades at third base.
Agent Scott Boras is generally not in the habit of signing his clients to extensions when they are this close to free agency, and Bregman has been careful to say how much he has enjoyed his time in Boston without committing beyond this season.
But maybe there’s a deal to be made. Start with the $80 million over 2026-27 and add two years and $70 million for 2028-29.
Make part of a deal a lofty signing bonus to further protect Bregman from the industry unrest that is almost certainly coming after the 2026 season, when the collective bargaining agreement expires.
That gives Bregman $150 million over four years through his age-35 season, plus keeps him with a team that has gravitated toward his leadership and playing for a manager he trusts in Alex Cora.
Beyond his value as a righthanded hitter at Fenway Park, Bregman helps balance a roster with his experience as the Red Sox build around their homegrown core.
His family also has been comfortable in Boston this season, a big factor given his two young sons.
Given what has become a worrisome injury history, the Red Sox can’t assume Marcelo Mayer takes over at third base if Bregman were to leave. By retaining Bregman, second base remains an option for Mayer.
The Sox have several options there. They’re much thinner organizationally at third.
So many factors point to why the Sox need to retain Bregman. Tough as it may be to get a deal done, they’d be wise to act before he gets back on the market.
A few other observations on the Sox:
⋅ Chapman made his major league debut on Aug. 31, 2010, for the Reds at the age of 22. He pitched a scoreless inning and hit 102.7 m.p.h. with his fastball.
He pitched a scoreless inning for the Red Sox on Aug. 31, 2025, at age 37 and hit 100.5 m.p.h. On that same day, Chapman agreed to a one-year, $13.3 million contract extension.
There can’t be many pitchers who have hit 100 15 years apart.
Chapman has thrown 15 pitches of at least 102 m.p.h. this season, topping out at 103.8 on May 7 when he struck out Blaine Crim of the Rangers.
⋅ In retrospect, perhaps the Sox should have just sent the Giants the money needed to complete the Rafael Devers trade instead of taking back righthander Jordan Hicks and the roughly $30.2 million he had left on his contract.
The Sox were 10-11 in games Hicks pitched when he landed on the injured list Friday with what was said to be a sore shoulder. His 8.20 ERA and 1.98 WHIP accurately reflects how poorly he has pitched.
Going back to last season, Hicks has a 5.19 ERA over 63 games and 177 innings, with a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.95.
Cora said several times in recent weeks that Hicks was close to nailing down his command and that the Sox had faith he would help the bullpen. That was wishful thinking. It’s more likely he doesn’t pitch again this season.
The Sox are the fourth team Hicks has played for in the last three years. There’s a reason for that. His results just haven’t matched his talent.
⋅ The Sox celebrated the career of minor league hitting coach Rich Gedman last week, presenting him with an engraved bat during a clubhouse ceremony at Polar Park in recognition of his 20 years as part of the player development staff.
Gedman, 65, started with the Sox in 2011 as a hitting coach with Rookie League Lowell and moved his way up through the organization. He has been part of the Triple A staff since 2015.
Going back to his time as a player, Gedman is two months shy of 33 seasons being employed by the organization, from when he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Worcester’s St. Peter-Marian High in 1977.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social.