Alex Bregman opted out of his Red Sox contract on Monday, three days before the deadline to make that decision.
Why waste time? It was obvious from the moment he signed that contract in February that, barring a long-term injury, Bregman would return to free agency. The third baseman left $83.3 million over two years on the table knowing he should easily be able to double that.
Bregman did not sign with the Sox until after spring training had started this past season, his value dimmed by the Astros having made him a qualifying offer.
Teams were hesitant to lose a high-round draft pick in addition to paying Bregman, but the Sox forfeited their second-rounder to fill what was an obvious hole in their lineup.
Now that Bregman is ineligible to receive a qualifying offer, his free agency is free of roadblocks.
The coming months will be a test of how serious Red Sox ownership is about wanting to win the World Series next season, not simply make the playoffs. Retaining Bregman would be a sign of high ambitions.
They already know Bregman fits their needs. He’s a righthanded hitter with both power and a high on-base percentage. Bregman’s also an above-average defensive third baseman.
Surprisingly, Bregman hit far better on the road (.296 with an .875 OPS) than he did at Fenway Park (.246, .761). That feels more like an anomaly given his previous success at Fenway while playing for Houston.
Bregman strained his right quadriceps on May 23 and didn’t return until July 11, well ahead of the projected schedule. It was clear he was hampered by the injury through the end of the season, particularly running the bases.
It has since fully healed and Bregman should have a normal offseason.
Bregman already has checked the box of showing he can succeed playing in Boston.
That was immediately tested in spring training when Rafael Devers reacted to Bregman’s signing by saying he would only play third base. Bregman deftly handled the issue by making only innocuous comments until Devers stopped the charade and agreed to be the designated hitter.
Bregman then played a key role in helping hold the team together after Devers was traded to the Giants in June.
Throughout the season, Bregman’s locker was a postgame gathering spot where players would review their at-bats with him on an iPad, seeking his advice.
For Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, and Marcelo Mayer in particular, Bregman was their touchstone. Over the second half of the season, pitchers often joined the postgame discussions to get Bregman’s advice on how best to attack hitters.
“He’s a great person; he’s a great teammate,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said during the last week of the season.
It’s hard to know what value chief baseball officer Craig Breslow will place on intangibles given the organization’s reliance on statistical modeling. But there is value, especially given all the young players who already have added to the major league roster and those on the way.
Bregman is by far the best third baseman on the free agent market. Japanese star Munetaka Murakami is expected to be made available by the Yakult Swallows, but he projects as a first baseman.
After that, it’s 34-year-old Eugenio Suárez or the likes of Yoán Moncada. There’s always the trade market, but the Sox also need a No. 2 starter.
Mayer played well at third base filling in for Bregman, but the Sox also have an opening at second. Beyond that, Mayer has not yet shown he can stay healthy for a full season.
Bregman turns 32 in March, so there should be a limit to how far the Sox will go to bring him back, but they reached common ground with him and agent Scott Boras in February and should be able to do it again.
The Sox are building a World Series contender. Bregman has been there four times and knows the way back. It was a good match in February and should be again.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social.