BOSTON -- For the second consecutive winter, Alex Bregman was a hot topic at Fenway Fest without actually being there.
As Red Sox players and coaches scattered around Fenway Park and surrounding locations and interacted with fans at the annual feel-good event on Saturday, one topic couldn’t be avoided.
Will Bregman, who in November exercised an opt-out in the three-year contract he signed to come to Boston less than 11 months ago, be back by the time the Red Sox gather under the sun in Fort Myers, Fla.?
“You’ve got to ask him,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “The ball is in his court. Obviously we've been working together to see what happens, but obviously it's a different offseason for Alex. You guys know how I feel about him.”
Multiple reports surfaced last week that Boston made “an aggressive offer” to Bregman. Following club policy, the Red Sox chose not to speak publicly about specific negotiations with a free agent.
“I’m going to be very careful in how I talk about any individual pursuit,” said Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. “We saw the impact that Alex had last year -- on the field, in the clubhouse, in the community -- and he’s someone that fits our team really well. He's still out there, which means we have a chance to sign him.”
As Breslow mentioned, the fit between Bregman and the Red Sox was obvious in 2025. And it could be even better in ‘26 and beyond, given the foundation that was built last year.
“Last year he checked all the boxes that I knew he was going to check, and he checked some boxes that people didn't know that he was going to check,” Cora said. “We just let him work last year. And obviously I cannot talk about free agents, that’s very straightforward, black and white, but I love the player. We love the player. Let's see what happens.”
Roman Anthony, who seems primed to be Boston’s next superstar, hopes that Bregman can continue to mentor him like he did last season.
“I would love to have him back,” said Anthony. “I love Breggy. He was a huge part of my success and a lot of the young guys, and not only the young guys but many of the guys in the clubhouse. I think we’re all on the same page with where we stand with him and what we hope happens.”
Veteran shortstop Trevor Story, who helped recruit Bregman last offseason, has also kept in frequent contact with his friend. He knows there's only so much persuading he can do at this point.
“It's a unique thing to play for the Boston Red Sox, and that's kind of my biggest pitch. And there's something special to winning here, and if you can do it here, it feels like it means more," Story said. "But as far as targets, AB, he’s a good friend, so we’re in contact a lot.”
Though the Red Sox are the only team that hasn’t signed a Major League free agent this offseason, the club has added two starting pitchers via trade in Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, plus a key bat to play first base in Willson Contreras.
After a successful 2025 season in which the club got back to the postseason for the first time since ‘21 but was eliminated by the Yankees in Game 3 of an American League Wild Card Series, Boston’s goal is a deep postseason run.
Bregman or a similar caliber of position player (Bo Bichette?) might be the final piece for that goal to be realistic.
“Our fans, in the end, want exactly what we want,” said Red Sox president/CEO Sam Kennedy. “And we have an obligation to give it to them. And that's getting to October and winning in October.
“No one is popping champagne over getting to a Wild Card Series. That's not the Red Sox’s goal or standard. The standard is doing everything we can to win another World Series championship. We've tasted it many, many times. And we want more and more for our fans. That's what they deserve.”
It remains to be seen if Bregman will be part of that quest. However, the curiosity will linger until the matter is settled.
Cora encouraged fans to be patient.
“The offseason is not over -- from experience," Cora said. "J.D. Martinez walked in a week into camp [in 2018], and he made a big difference. Alex walked in last year the last day before report day, and he made a huge difference. So we'll see what we have in the next few weeks.”
Breslow will be leading the charge in putting the final touches on a talented roster.
“I think, as evidenced by the fact that it's Jan. 10 and there are still a lot of really talented free agents out there, it indicates that the market is moving fairly slowly and deliberately,” Breslow said. “I guess at this point we remain engaged. And like I said and have said all along: We’re going to do everything we can to improve our roster.”