5 ways for Red Sox to replace Alex Bregman at 3B if he leaves

After having too many third basemen at first of spring coaching, the Purple Sox may need the alternative drawback this offseason.

Alex Bregman is reportedly set to opt out of his contract and turn into a free agent when the offseason formally opens. Whereas Purple Sox supervisor Alex Cora isn’t worrying in regards to the scenario, Bregman is broadly seen as the highest free agent at third base this offseason, so Boston will presumably have robust competitors to maintain him.

After all, dropping Bregman wouldn’t be very best for a Purple Sox staff trying to take the following step, even when his reported asking value may appear wealthy relative to his manufacturing on the finish of the season. However there are a handful of the way Boston might look to interchange Bregman in the event that they lose him this offseason.

So, let’s check out 5 attainable methods the Purple Sox might exchange Bregman at third base.

Make Marcelo Mayer the full-time third baseman.

If the Purple Sox lose Bregman in free company, they may merely exchange him the identical manner they did when he went down with a quad damage throughout the 2025 season.

Mayer seemed greater than snug at third base after making his MLB debut in Could, logging only one error in almost 250 innings on the place. His Outs Above Common (2) additionally would’ve been tied for the Eleventh-best mark amongst 82 third basemen if he had sufficient innings to qualify.

However there is likely to be a couple of explanation why Mayer, who was one of many high prospects in baseball earlier than getting referred to as up, won’t be given the full-time job at third base. His hitting wasn’t nice (.228 batting common, .674 OPS, 4 house runs in 44 video games), and he significantly struggled in opposition to lefties (.154 batting common). So, the Purple Sox would possibly must spell him with a right-handed hitter.

Even when the Purple Sox are assured that Mayer’s hitting will get higher with time, his sturdiness hasn’t been nice. He’s handled accidents in each season since 2022, with a wrist damage knocking him out for the ultimate 2.5 months of the 2025 season.

After all, the Purple Sox might additionally determine that they need to play Mayer elsewhere. Trevor Story might decide out of his contract and depart in his free company as nicely, opening a gap at shortstop, Mayer’s pure place. Relying on how the Purple Sox view Kristian Campbell, they may have a void to fill at second base, too.

So, Boston may need to look outdoors the group to interchange Bregman if he leaves this offseason.

Take a swing at Eugenio Suarez or Munetaka Murakami.

After Bregman, Suarez and Murakami are the consensus top-two free agent third basemen this offseason. Suarez, now with the Mariners, would give the Purple Sox some much-needed right-handed energy, hitting 49 homers within the common season as he cut up time in Arizona and Seattle. The truth is, the Purple Sox have been reportedly taken with him earlier than the Mariners acquired him on the commerce deadline.

Suarez is 34, so signing him in all probability wouldn’t require an excellent long-term dedication. But it surely additionally comes with the priority that his play might begin to fall off. The truth is, he hit .189 in Seattle after the commerce throughout the common season and his batting common hasn’t been good since 2020 (.229).

Murakami, in the meantime, was one of many high hitters in Japan and is predicted to be posted this winter, making him out there to signal with any MLB staff. The 25-year-old lefty has been among the finest hitters in NPB over the previous couple of years, successful Central League MVP twice and logging 22 homers in 56 video games this previous season.

The Purple Sox may very well be within the combine to signal Murakami, MLB.com Mark Feinsand reported. Nonetheless, some groups reportedly suppose he is likely to be higher suited to play first or be a delegated hitter.

Past Suarez and Murakami, the opposite free-agent choices at third base aren’t spectacular. Former Purple Sox prospect Yoan Moncada is likely to be the most effective of the remaining, however he struggles in opposition to left-handed pitching and is a poor fielder.

If the Purple Sox need Mayer to be their main third baseman, going after somebody like Amed Rosario might make sense to assist steadiness the lineup.

Commerce for Nolan Arenado or Alec Bohm.

Keep in mind when the Purple Sox have been reportedly within the combine for Arenado final offseason? Properly, they may very well be taking part in the identical tune and dance with the Cardinals once more this offseason.

Arenado is predicted to be a commerce candidate once more, even saying that he’s prepared so as to add extra groups he would waive his no-trade clause for this offseason. However the Purple Sox don’t have to fret about that as he was already prepared to waive his no-trade clause to hitch them final winter.

Now 34, Arenado’s numbers have fallen a very good bit from the times when he was among the finest hitters in baseball. He hit a career-low .237 with a .666 OPS and 12 homers in 107 video games final season. However he’s been a plus-fielder and buying and selling for him won’t take a lot as he has two years and $42 million remaining on his contract.

As for Bohm, he is likely to be out of the equation for the Phillies’ future as they struggle to determine what to do subsequent after three straight disappointing playoff showings. The 29-year-old is getting into his last season of staff management, so buying and selling for him would possibly simply be a short lived repair.

But when the Purple Sox really feel like they solely want a short lived resolution at third as they determine the way to use Mayer and Campbell, Bohm is a strong choice. The correct-handed hitter has logged a batting common of not less than .270 and an OPS of not less than .710 in every of the final 4 seasons. He doesn’t have a lot energy, although, logging only one 20-homer season up to now in his profession.