5 Hitters Red Sox Should Target After Losing Alex Bregman
The Boston Red Sox must pivot after news broke Saturday night that Alex Bregman reportedly signed a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs.
Boston won’t retain the All-Star third baseman, who ignited its lineup and served as a clubhouse leader in 2025. But other potential lineup upgrades remain available through free agency and the trade market.
Keeping in mind that the Arizona Diamondbacks are reportedly no longer shopping Ketel Marte, here are five position players the Red Sox can pursue after Bregman’s exit.
Bo Bichette, SS, FA
With Bregman off the table, Bichette stands out as the clear free-agent choice. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Red Sox will “turn their sights” to Bichette, whom The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal called an “obvious” target.
Bichette has spent his entire career playing shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays, but the 27-year-old would likely benefit from a long-term position change. He could play second base in Boston with Trevor Story manning shortstop and Marcelo Mayer replacing Bregman at the hot corner.
Bichette may represent an offensive upgrade over Bregman after bouncing back from a disastrous 2024 to bat .311/.357/.483 last season. While not an elite power hitter, the right-hander could remain a doubles machine if playing half his games at Fenway Park for his longtime American League East rival.
Eugenio Suárez, 3B, FA
Suárez can’t match Bregman’s plate approach and glove work, but MLB’s top remaining free-agent third baseman would offer a significant power boost. He matched a career-high 49 home runs last season and leads the position with 163 long balls in the previous five years.
Story led the Red Sox with 25 home runs last season, so the lineup can use an elite power bat to fill the Rafael Devers void. That made Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber enticing options before the free-agent sluggers signed elsewhere.
Despite his prodigious pop, Suárez is also a 34-year-old who posted a .298 on-base percentage in 2025. That could allow Boston to land the right-handed bopper on a short-term contract.
Brendan Donovan, 2B/OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals
The Red Sox have already made two big trades with the St. Louis Cardinals, acquiring Sonny Gray for their rotation and Willson Contreras to play first base. Could they call former Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom for another move?
St. Louis could continue its rebuild by dealing Brendan Donovan, a career .282/.361/.411 hitter who can replicate Bregman’s on-base skills. The 28-year-old lefty would fit as a second baseman, but he also offers defensive flexibility.
If the Cardinals want too much for Donovan, the Red Sox can get creative and pursue Nolan Arenado.
Arenado is no longer an elite commodity after batting .237/.289/.377 last season, and the Cardinals likely wouldn’t mind escaping the remaining two years and $42 million of his contract. That could give the Red Sox a chance to acquire a 10-time Gold Glover and eight-time All-Star as a new veteran leader without sacrificing much talent in a trade package.
Isaac Paredes, 3B, Houston Astros
The Red Sox have also been linked in trade talks to Isaac Paredes, who wouldn’t be cheap. The third baseman batted .254/.352/.458 with 20 home runs in 102 games for the Houston Astros last season and remains under team control until 2028.
Like Bregman, Paredes has limited strikeouts (17.4%) while drawing plenty of walks (11.1%) throughout his career. Turning 27 in February, he’d present a potential long-term solution who has previously played at first and second base.