Finishing off Part 1 of Monday’s article, these are a few more players that could return to or join the Boston Red Sox next year. 

Alex Bregman

Alex Bregman signed a three-year $120 million deal with the Red Sox last year that included opt-outs in both 2025 and 2026. He recently decided to exercise his 2025 opt-out in search of a longer-term deal, even if it means taking a lower annual average value.

While Marcelo Mayer is viewed as the Sox’s third baseman (or potentially shortstop) of the future, injuries have limited his availability. Bregman, meanwhile, was excellent for Boston this past season, solid defensively, hitting .273 and delivering several clutch moments at the plate; he became a fan favorite after once being the ‘villain’ in many fans’ eyes. 

Still, committing seven or eight years and over $200 million to Bregman may not make sense with Mayer waiting to take his spot. A lot regarding this particular decision may come down to whether current Red Sox shortstop, Trevor Story, is going to opt out of his contract. If Story enters free agency, the Red Sox would surely look to keep one of the two stars and let Mayer take the other spot, but at the moment the Story decision is an unknown variable in the equation. 

It’s no doubt that manager Alex Cora is a big fan of Bregman’s, given their time together in Houston. Cora recently said that he is “gonna stay very positive,” in regards to Bregman returning. He also shared that when Bregman chose the Sox last year, “He wanted to be on a playoff team. He wanted to play in Fenway Park. He wanted to be part of this organization, and since day one, he’s given 100% to us.” Cora’s optimism should give Red Sox fans a bit of hope that their All-Star third baseman could return. Expect conversations between Bregman and the Red Sox to continue once free agency opens, but another team could easily outbid Boston. 

Conclusion: If Bregman is willing to take a hometown discount, a reunion could happen. Otherwise, expect him to be wearing a different uniform next season.

Munetaka Murakami

Murakami is likely a name that isn’t familiar to Red Sox fans — or even most MLB fans. The 25-year-old Japanese superstar has spent his entire career playing for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (Japan’s top league). He did, however, make a global impression during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he hit a game-tying home run off MLB pitcher Merrill Kelly to help Japan defeat Team USA in the final.

Murakami is best known for his dominant hitting performances, which have earned him two Central League MVP awards (2021 and 2022) and four Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star selections. His 2022 MVP season was nothing short of historic — he became the youngest player in Nippon Professional Baseball history to win the Triple Crown, leading to the first unanimous MVP vote since Masahiro Tanaka in 2013 (a longtime Yankees pitcher with whom Sox fans are all too familiar).

Despite an injury that kept him sidelined for most of last season, Murakami has primarily played third base, though he has also seen time at first base and, unlike Rafael Devers, he is willing to play there. Murakami could easily fill an infield hole for the Sox and rotate in as a designated hitter when needed. It would no doubt be exciting to watch Murakami play alongside World Baseball Classic teammate Masataka Yoshida, giving Boston a dynamic duo of Japan’s premier players.

Conclusion: With both Pete Alonso and Bregman potentially coming at steep prices, the Red Sox could look to Murakami as a more affordable option who could fill a positional need while bringing legitimate home run power to the lineup.

Dylan Cease and Micheal King

Both Dylan Cease and Michael King will enter free agency as two of the most intriguing starting pitchers available this offseason. While King is expected to draw significant interest and could receive a strong offer to return to San Diego, Cease’s tenure with the Padres appears to be nearing its end.

King’s 2025 season was limited to just 15 appearances due to a shoulder nerve issue and left knee inflammation, but he was solid when healthy, posting a 3.44 ERA. His 2024 campaign showcased his full potential — a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 walks and hits per inning and 201 strikeouts — solidifying his status as a legitimate No. 2 arm for most teams. 

Cease, meanwhile, hasn’t quite replicated his stellar 2022 season, when he finished as the Cy Young Award runner-up with a 2.20 ERA. Still, he remains a durable and valuable starter. Despite an uneven 2025 season in which he posted a 4.55 ERA, Cease continued to demonstrate elite strikeout ability — ranking sixth in MLB with 215 strikeouts — and remarkable durability, leading all starting pitchers with 162 appearances over the past five years. 

Given the Red Sox’s need for experienced starting pitching, both members of the Padres pair should be relatively desirable fits to land in Boston. The fact that signing either would not require giving up prospects only adds to their appeal. 

Conclusion: Cease seems to be the more likely option of the two, but King could become the priority if he wants to leave San Diego. Both should receive some consideration from the Red Sox. 

Framber Valdez

Framber Valdez is another free agent whose name may pop up here and there, as he’s a top target for teams looking to add starting pitching. Valdez’s pitching acumen would come with a massive cost though — and it isn’t necessarily financial. He has developed a reputation in baseball circles as a bit of a ‘clubhouse cancer.’ Earlier this season, Valdez appeared to intentionally hit teammate and catcher César Salazar after a disagreement on a pitch that led to a grand slam. If this was an isolated incident — a simple lapse in judgment — it might be overlooked. However, that’s not the case. Valdez has also been known to publicly criticize his coaching staff when things haven’t gone his way.

While his career 3.23 ERA is certainly enticing, it may not be worth bringing in the eight-year veteran given the potential risk of disrupting a young Red Sox locker room that has something special building for the future. If Valdez’s clear character concerns lead to a notable discount on his asking price, then maybe he’d be worth considering — but if it’s going to cost an arm and a leg, pursuing someone like Cease or King seems like the smarter move.

Conclusion: Let’s hope Valdez doesn’t receive any serious interest from the Sox. At the end of the day, if he’s the last top option available, talks could start — but only because the need for quality pitching might outweigh his questionable past.