Alex Bregman, a vital player in the rise of the Houston Astros as a powerhouse in the American League, is set to leave the only team he has ever played for.

According to a league source cited by The Athletic, Bregman has finalized a three-year contract worth $120 million with the Boston Red Sox. This agreement marks the conclusion of his ten-year tenure with the Astros, where he evolved into a genuine superstar. His move to the Red Sox allows him to reconnect with Alex Cora, the current Boston manager and former Astros bench coach.

Alex Bregman’s contract with the Red Sox is for three years and $120 million, source tells @TheAthletic. Opt outs after each season.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 13, 2025

Entering this offseason, Bregman was ranked as the third-best position player on The Athletic’s Free Agent Big Board, following Juan Soto and Willy Adames. While Soto and Adames secured contracts by early December, Bregman’s market extended into February, enticing interest from the Astros as well as various teams, including the Chicago Cubs.

Despite predictions from The Athletic’s Tim Britton estimating a seven-year, $189 million deal for Bregman, he opted for a shorter contract with a higher average annual value, featuring opt-outs after each season.

Drafted second overall in 2015, Bregman played a mere 146 games in the minor leagues before his major league debut on July 25, 2016. Over the next eight years, he became a symbol of Houston’s successful era, establishing himself as one of the finest third basemen in baseball history.

Since the beginning of the 2017 season — his first full year in the majors — only Cleveland Guardians standout José Ramírez has surpassed Bregman in wins above replacement among third basemen, according to FanGraphs. During his tenure, the Astros captured four American League pennants, contended for three additional ones, and clinched two World Series championships with Bregman leading the way on the field.

Bregman ranked second only to Mike Trout in fWAR during the 2018 and 2019 seasons — a span where Bregman appeared destined to become a key figure in baseball. He earned the MVP title during the 2019 All-Star Game, finished behind Trout in AL MVP voting, and engaged in a memorable home run celebration with Soto at the World Series.

Following a Game 7 loss to Soto’s Nationals, The Athletic exposed Houston’s electronic sign-stealing scandal at Minute Maid Park for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Bregman’s appearance at a team-initiated press conference after the penalties were handed down sparked significant criticism from media and fans alike.

While some of the swagger Bregman previously displayed faded, his leadership within the clubhouse remained intact. Teammates consistently referred to Bregman as an essential leader, praising his impressive baseball intellect and remarkable ability to analyze the game.

On the field, Bregman faced challenges due to recurring soft tissue injuries, slow season starts, and a gradual drop in power. After hitting 99 home runs in his first four seasons, he has only managed 92 in the past five. Nevertheless, Bregman continues to be an on-base threat with excellent plate discipline, though his declining walk rate has raised some eyebrows this season.

Since 2019, Bregman has not been selected for an All-Star team or ranked in the top ten for MVP voting, yet he remains one of the sport’s most reliable defenders, boasting a postseason experience few can rival. In 2024, he earned his first Gold Glove Award after three previous finalist nods.

Bregman has participated in 434 plate appearances across 99 playoff games. Among active players, only his longtime teammate Jose Altuve has more postseason experience. His agent, Scott Boras, highlighted Bregman’s extensive playoff background during his free agency, describing his addition as an “infusion of championship blood” for any team. The Astros reached the American League Championship Series in all but one of Bregman’s eight full seasons — 2024 being the exception.

In September, Altuve strongly urged Houston’s management to retain Bregman, asserting that he “made this entire organization better than where we were before him.”

(Photo: Alex Bierens de Haan / MLB Photos via Getty Images)