For much of the offseason, He seemed like an ideal match for the Boston Red Sox. As a right-handed hitter, he filled a key need for the team.
He also showed openness to playing second base, a position where Boston lacks a clear starter. The Red Sox repeatedly emphasized their financial flexibility in their quest to return to World Series contention, making Bregman a logical target.
However, despite still being available, the Red Sox are now unlikely to pursue him, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan on The Michael Kay Show.
After all the talk from Boston’s leadership about their commitment to winning, their reluctance to spend like the big-market team they claim to be—especially after passing on other top free agents—paints a disappointing picture.
While they did trade for Garrett Crochet, his 2025 salary is under $4 million, meaning they should have, and likely do have, money to invest. Yet, they’re choosing not to spend on a player who would be a near-perfect fit for their roster.
Unless something changes drastically, Bregman will likely sign elsewhere. If that happens, here’s what Boston’s Opening Day lineup could look like.
Red Sox Bregman-less Opening Day lineup features star prospect at second base
Boston Red Sox Projected Batting Order
| Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jarren Duran | LF |
| 2 | Rafael Devers | 3B |
| 3 | Triston Casas | 1B |
| 4 | Trevor Story | SS |
| 5 | Masataka Yoshida | DH |
| 6 | Connor Wong | C |
| 7 | Wilyer Abreu | RF |
| 8 | Kristian Campbell | 2B |
| 9 | Ceddanne Rafaela | CF |
A quick look at Boston’s projected Opening Day lineup highlights why Alex Bregman would be a great fit. The top three batters are all left-handed, and arguably the five best hitters—Devers, Duran, Casas, Yoshida, and Abreu—also hit from the left side. While Bregman had a down year, he still hit 26 home runs, has a strong track record at Fenway Park, and would add a much-needed right-handed presence to the lineup.
However, without Bregman, there’s a clear opportunity for MLB Pipeline’s No. 7 overall prospect, Kristian Campbell, to step in as Boston’s Opening Day second baseman. He’ll need to prove himself in Spring Training, but based on his brief yet impressive professional career, there’s little reason to doubt his ability.
A fourth-round pick in 2023, Campbell started 2024 in High-A and finished in Triple-A, posting a stellar .330/.439/.558 slash line with 20 home runs, 77 RBIs, 32 doubles, and 24 stolen bases. His well-rounded skill set, combined with defensive versatility, makes him an intriguing prospect.
Although he played just 19 of his 115 games at Triple-A, he still managed four home runs in 70 at-bats with an .898 OPS, proving he can handle the highest level of the Minors. With his main competition for the second base job being David Hamilton and Vaughn Grissom, Campbell should be given a legitimate chance to win the role.
At some point, the Red Sox need to take bold steps. If they’re not going to be aggressive in free agency, they should take a chance on their top-tier prospects. Campbell may not be Bregman in 2025, but his superstar potential is undeniable. Red Sox fans should be eager to see him in Spring Training—hopefully leading to an Opening Day debut.
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