The Boston Red Sox just made a significant move, acquiring Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals - and it’s a deal that could have ripple effects across their entire offseason strategy. But even with Contreras in the mix, don’t count out a reunion with Alex Bregman just yet.
Bregman, who signed a three-year, $120 million deal with Boston last offseason, opted out after a strong All-Star campaign. That decision threw a wrench into the Red Sox’s plans, but according to league sources, the front office is still very much in the hunt to bring him back.
The challenge? His market is heating up fast, with Arizona and Toronto reportedly entering the picture.
Boston’s pursuit of Bregman isn’t just about nostalgia - it’s about building a contender. The Red Sox have made it clear this offseason that they’re looking to add multiple impact bats.
Contreras checks one of those boxes. If they can land Bregman again, it would be a statement move - the kind that signals Boston is aiming to make real noise in 2026.
Let’s talk about what Contreras brings to the table. Since the start of the 2022 season, he’s launched 77 home runs and posted a .817 OPS.
That’s not just solid - that’s middle-of-the-order production. And with Triston Casas sidelined due to injury, Contreras is expected to slot in as the primary first baseman, at least to start the season.
Once Casas is healthy, the two could form a potent left-right combo, rotating between first base and designated hitter.
But Contreras isn’t just a power bat. He’s the kind of hitter who delivers in high-leverage moments - exactly the kind of player Boston’s lineup has needed.
With two outs and runners in scoring position last season, he slashed .344 with a .977 OPS over 71 plate appearances. That’s clutch, and it’s something Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow specifically highlighted as a need earlier this offseason.
Breslow hasn’t been sitting still on the pitching front either. He’s already addressed the rotation with the additions of Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, both acquired in trades with National League Central teams. That gives Boston more depth and experience on the mound, which was a glaring issue last season.
So here’s where things stand: Contreras gives the Red Sox a proven right-handed slugger who can hold down first base and deliver in key moments. Bregman, if re-signed, would give them another All-Star caliber bat and a steady presence at third base. Put those two moves together, and this could go down as one of the more impactful offseasons Boston has had in recent memory.
The pieces are starting to fall into place. Now it’s a matter of whether Breslow and the front office can close the loop and bring Bregman back into the fold. If they do, the Red Sox won’t just be better - they’ll be dangerous.