Boston Red Sox fans saw their season flash before their eyes on Friday afternoon when Alex Bregman came up limping at first base. The All-Star third baseman promptly asked to leave the game. Now we know his fate.

According to manager Alex Cora, Bregman’s injury is “significant,” being compared to a quad strain that sidelined him for 50 games in 2021. This puts Boston’s whole season in flux. It’s unclear how the team proceeds from here.

Aside from a red-hot Rafael Devers, Bregman has been Boston’s hottest bat this season. He is also a critical leadership figure, both on and off the field. While the Red Sox can tentatively plan on getting Bregman back in a few months, it’s unclear how this injury impacts his future.

Bregman’s contract situation — as well as Boston’s position in the standings — complicate what is already a catastrophic loss for the Red Sox.

Alex Bregman’s Red Sox future comes into question after heartbreaking quad injury

Bregman inked a three-year, $120 million contract with Boston, making him one of MLB’s highest-paid players on an annual basis. He also has the option to opt out after each season in search of a longer deal. Before the injury, it felt like a no-brainer that Bregman would opt out. He was once again positioning himself as a top-tier infielder on the open market.

The injury complicates his outlook a bit. A lot of this will depend on how Bregman looks once he’s back — assuming he even returns in a Red Sox uniform. If Bregman comes back and takes a while to relocate his swing, Boston can probably count on him sticking around. If Bregman returns and picks right back up where he left off, it’s “bon voyage” — or “how much more will you pay me?”

If the Red Sox don’t feel confident about Bregman’s odds of returning, however, a more seismic option is available to Craig Breslow and the front office. Boston sits at 27-26, a game above .500 and five games behind New York in the AL East. There’s a decent chance the Red Sox go on a downward spiral with Bregman out of the lineup.