The Los Angeles Dodgers might be shopping for a new third baseman this winter, and there’s a shiny, controversial name circling the rumor mill: Alex Bregman.
After signing a 3-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox, Bregman is now expected to opt out thanks to a blazing 2025 season. According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the Dodgers are among several big-market teams ready to pounce if he hits free agency. Others include the Yankees, Phillies, and even his former team, the Astros.
“His free-agent market should be even more robust than last offseason… He would be an upgrade for all of them at the hot corner.” – Jim Bowden
And that includes the Dodgers, whose current third baseman Max Muncy is having a rough go. Muncy’s .208 batting average and .663 OPS just aren’t cutting it, especially when Bregman is out here slashing .304/.388/.565 with 11 home runs already. Let’s be real, that’s MVP-level heat.
So what’s the catch?
History. Bregman was a core figure in the Astros’ 2017 cheating scandal, a wound that still stings in Dodgerland. Fans haven’t forgotten — and neither has the clubhouse. So while he may be the “perfect upgrade” on paper, he’s far from a clean-slate candidate emotionally.
Still, with the Dodgers already moving on from veterans like Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes, they’ve shown they won’t let sentiment get in the way of performance. If Bregman keeps raking and opts out, the Red Sox will try to keep him, but the bright lights of LA and a championship-ready roster could prove too tempting to resist.
Bottom line? The Dodgers are in the market. Bregman’s bat fits. His baggage? That’s a tougher call. This offseason could get spicy.
