It’s shaping up to be a long offseason in Boston as the Red Sox front office deliberates whether to bring back veteran infielder Alex Bregman on a long-term deal. Bregman recently opted out of his contract, which was paying him an average of $40 million per year, in hopes of securing a multi-year agreement.

Now, uncertainty looms over Bregman’s future in Boston. The organization chose Bregman over Rafael Devers back in June, when Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants. However, recent updates suggest that Bregman’s return to the Red Sox may not be guaranteed.

Jim Bowden, writing for The Athletic, shared his latest insight on the situation:
“The Red Sox loved their time with Alex Bregman and appreciated all he did on and off the field. That said, I’m not sure they’ll be willing to commit to Bregman on a long-term contract at his market price. If they don’t, expect them to let rookie Marcelo Mayer take over at third base with Trevor Story staying at shortstop.”

Trevor Story did not opt out of his contract, so he is expected to remain with the organization for the next season. Since Mayer is a natural shortstop and currently blocked by Story, the only way to have both Mayer and Bregman in the same infield would be to move Mayer to second base. This would give Boston elite defense across third base, shortstop, and second base.

However, the more likely scenario is that the Red Sox opt for a different direction at third base as they look to allocate their payroll elsewhere.

One intriguing option for Boston is Munetaka Murakami. While he may not have Bregman’s defensive prowess, Murakami boasts strong bat-to-ball skills and is multiple years younger than Bregman. Even if their contract values end up similar, Murakami’s youth could be a significant factor.

One thing is clear: Boston cannot afford to let third base become a liability less than a year after trading Rafael Devers. Otherwise, general manager Craig Breslow will have a lot of explaining to do.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/latest-alex-bregman-musing-does-not-bode-well-for-red-sox-11000776