Just days after the conclusion of the World Series, MLB free agency is beginning in earnest — and three of the top players in the league have officially become free agents. Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman is opting out of his contract after only one season with the team, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has opted out of his contract, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. And Mets first baseman Pete Alonso has also opted out, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
All three opt-outs were expected. By becoming free agents, Bregman, Alonso and Díaz quickly become three of the most desired players on the market: Bregman is the No. 2 player in Yahoo Sports’ free-agency rankings, Alonso is No. 5 and Díaz is No. 11.
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Reports that Bregman planned to opt out of his three-year, $120 million contract signed last offseason emerged last month, as the third baseman is coming off a strong season in Boston. Bregman, hampered slightly by a quad injury, finished the year with a .273 average, 62 RBI and 18 home runs.
The Red Sox are in the running to keep the veteran in Boston. Bregman will certainly be asking for more money, but it’s possible that Boston will deliver. Given the drama with Rafael Devers (which ended with Devers getting traded to the San Francisco Giants), the Red Sox have already proven that they are willing to rearrange their team to have Bregman stick around.
But there will be other teams, including the Tigers and Phillies, potentially in line to make a move for the infielder.
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In the NL East, Alonso is on the market for the second winter in a row. Last year, Alonso’s market never materialized, and he returned to Queens on a lucrative, two-year deal with an opt-out that everyone expected him to exercise. After a rebound season, he’s again looking for a lucrative, longer-term deal. But the appetite for a first baseman on the wrong side of 30 remains to be seen. When the dust settles, Alonso is probably back with the Mets on a deal that neither he nor the team is ecstatic about.
Last but not least, Díaz has proven himself to be one of the best closing pitchers in the league. He finished the regular season with a 1.63 ERA, 98 strikeouts and 28 saves.
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A return to the Mets is also likely for Díaz, who is seeking a bigger annual value than his previous deal, which had two years and $37 million left before he chose to opt out.
Also Monday, Padres closer Robert Suarez opted out of his contract, per Heyman. Suarez led the NL with 40 saves this year and was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025. He had two years, $16 million left on his deal but will seek a higher average annual value this winter.
Mets pitcher A.J. Minter also reportedly exercised his one-year, $11 million player option on Monday, per multiple reports.
