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By Drew VonScio
Contributing Sports Writer
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Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman's contract situation has been the story of the season. His value to Boston increased ten-fold after the organization traded away Rafael Devers.
While it's unlikely anyone knows exactly what Bregman's plan is for the offseason, he's set to receive a huge contract. MLB insider Jayson Stark revealed the latest details and spoke to front office executives.
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"He's already making $40 million a year in the first year of his free-agent deal with the Red Sox ... so nobody has to worry about Bregman's earning power," wrote Stark. "But he can (and almost certainly will) opt out. And when you combine his 158 OPS+, his in-it-to-win-it intensity and the ripple effects of the Devers trade, he's in prime position to cash in."
Bregman entered Monday with a slash line of .299/.385/.553 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI. The 31-year-old third baseman has posted a 158 OPS+ with less than a week to go until the All-Star break begins.
Pair that with stellar defense, and the decision to add an opt-out after this season for Bregman was a smart one. With a season like this, it gives him all of the leverage in the offseason.
"I've been laughing about this for two weeks," one AL executive told Stark. "Just thinking about (his agent) Scott Boras' reaction to the Devers trade with Bregman, because you know he's sitting there thinking: 'Just give me a blank check, because whatever I want, you guys are going to have to pay me.'"
Bregman's contract in the offseason is going to be one of the biggest talking points across the league. Even if he does return to Boston, it will be at a much higher annual value than the $40 million he's currently being paid.
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