Copyright MassLive
The dramatic World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays concluded with a Los Angeles win in Game 7 on Saturday night, so baseball’s offseason business will officially begin this week. Four Red Sox players — Dustin May, Steven Matz, Rob Refsnyder and Justin Wilson — officially became free agents Sunday and will be free to sign anywhere Thursday. That was a formality. By Thursday, which marks five days after the conclusion of the World Series, bigger questions are due to be resolved. The Red Sox are now awaiting opt-out decisions from third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Trevor Story, who both must inform the club of their plans by Thursday evening. Though Red Sox decision-makers have been preparing for all outcomes while awaiting official word from Bregman’s camp, the expectation is that he will opt out and test free agency for the second straight year instead of returning for a (deferred) $40 million salary in 2026. Red Sox executives have been cautiously optimistic that Story, who has two years and $50 million (plus a $5 million buyout) left on his contract, will decide to return. He also hasn’t informed the team of his decision. A Story opt-out can’t fully be ruled out because of this winter’s weak shortstop class among free agents (beyond Bo Bichette) and the fact Story switched agencies, from Excel to Wasserman, after signing with the Red Sox in 2022. The Red Sox could also look to work out restructured, new deals with Bregman and/or Story before Thursday’s deadline. With Story, the club can void his opt-out — if he chooses to exercise it — by tacking on an extra year (2028) and $20 million (a $25 million salary minus the $5 million buyout) to his existing deal. Other decisions are due before Thursday for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. There are the mutual options over Liam Hendriks ($12 million, or $2 million buyout) and Lucas Giolito ($19 million, or $1.5 million buyout) that will both certainly be declined. There is the unique team option over Jarren Duran ($8 million) that can lock in his arbitration salary for 2026, though he’s still under team control even if it’s declined. Boston also has to clean up its 40-man roster to add players back from the 60-day injured list. There will be minor trades and waiver claims all over the league as teams do that and the Red Sox could be involved there. Also looming for the Red Sox is the decision on whether or not to extend the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer to Giolito before 5 p.m. ET on Thursday. You can read more about that pending decision here.
