Alex Bregman is expected to opt out of his contract with the Red Sox and test the free agent market for the second straight winter.

Boston will have exclusive negotiating rights until the third baseman officially opts out after the World Series concludes, but it’s no guarantee Bregman will return.

“It’s definitely business. I mean, is he a great player and a great part of our clubhouse the entire year? Absolutely,” Red Sox game-planning and run prevention coach Jason Varitek said on WEEI on Wednesday . “But he took the risk of taking a shortened deal and have that option to find out what he’s going to do as a free agent.”

The Red Sox signed Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal in February that included opt outs after the first and second season. He took over as the team’s

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