Cubs Land Alex Bregman on 5-Yr Deal

It was an enormous night time in Chicago. On Saturday, about an hour earlier than Caleb Williams and the Bears defeated the Packers within the Wild Card spherical, erasing an 18-point deficit with a fourth-quarter comeback so livid that it earned the uncommon non-baseball wheeee from Sarah Langs, the Cubs elicited a unique type of dopamine rush. As Jon Heyman of The New York Publish first reported, Alex Bregman has agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract to play in Wrigley Area. A yr after Bregman signed a high-value, prove-it pact with the Pink Sox, he’s lastly gotten the long-term deal he sought, whereas the Cubs acquired a premier participant to switch free agent Kyle Tucker. The deal comprises no opt-outs and a full no commerce clause. It’s the third-largest in franchise historical past, although on Sunday morning, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that it comprises $70 million in deferred cash, dropping the common annual worth to simply over $30 million. Bregman ought to stay in Wrigley by way of his age-36 season. It’s a big transfer, and the probably pièce de résistance for one of the crucial aggressive offseasons in latest reminiscence for the Cubs.

Simply in case you want a refresher on his résumé, Bregman ranked second on our High 50 Free Brokers record this winter, and for good motive. He’s a two-time World Collection champion and three-time All-Star who owns a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, an All-Star Sport MVP, and two top-five AL MVP finishes. Since his first full season in 2017, he’s accrued 41.8 WAR, eighth most amongst all place gamers. Except for a partial rookie yr and the truncated 2020 marketing campaign, he’s completed under 3.0 WAR simply as soon as, in an injury-shortened 2021 season. (Any profession recap additionally has to incorporate a minimum of some point out of Bregman’s position in Houston’s sign-stealing scheme in 2017 and 2018. Bregman would specific remorse in regards to the scandal, however his preliminary deflections – “the commissioner made his report, the Astros made their resolution, no additional touch upon it” – rankled followers, and his apologies fell flat with many outdoors of Houston.)

Bregman is not the MVP candidate he was in 2018 and 2019, when he ran a mixed 162 wRC+ and put up 16.2 WAR, however he’s been terribly constant ever since. Not solely has he averaged a 124 wRC+ over the previous six seasons, he’s saved inside 13 factors of that mark each single yr and he’s mixed that offensive excellence with nice protection at third. He earned MVP votes as not too long ago as 2023, and he was on tempo to choose up some extra in 2025 till a quad pressure and a late-August hunch modified the trajectory of his season; he nonetheless managed a .273/.360/.462 line with 18 residence runs, a 125 wRC+, and three.5 WAR in 114 video games.

This can be a glad ending to a protracted, twisty story for each Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras. Bregman ranked third on final offseason’s High 50 Free Brokers record. After 9 years with the Astros (together with a five-year, $100 million extension in 2019), the then 30-year-old Bregman needed a long-term contract. Regardless of curiosity from a number of groups, he didn’t discover the deal he was on the lookout for, although he did discover loads of {dollars}. Hampered by a qualifying provide, Bregman signed with Boston throughout spring coaching for 3 years and $120 million, with an choose out after every season (and a few deferred cash). In response to experiences, the Tigers had provided six years and $171.5 million with an opt-out after the 2026 season, whereas the Cubs provided 4 years and $120 million with opt-outs in each 2026 and 2027. Bregman guess on himself with the shorter, high-AAV deal, and he’s now cashing in. If you mix the 2 contracts, he ended up getting $215 million over six years, which is, in response to sources, a number of cash. Bregman is simply the most recent Boras consumer to efficiently execute the trampoline two-step, becoming a member of Pete Alonso, Blake Snell, and Matt Chapman. Cody Bellinger is bound to really feel heartened.

For the Pink Sox, then again, it’s wanting an increasing number of prefer it’s Bo Bichette or bust. Even after touchdown Willson Contreras, with out Bregman or Rafael Devers, our depth charts have them ranked fifteenth or worse at each infield place (together with catcher), and twentieth or worse in any respect however first base.

As for the Cubs, they’re actually doing the rattling factor. At 92-70, the workforce had the sixth-best document in baseball in 2025, and their Pythagorean win-loss document indicated that they deserved to be even higher. They made the playoffs for the primary time since 2020, and so they’ve actually acquired sufficient expertise across the diamond to advantage going all-in. They utterly overhauled their bullpen this winter, and so they’ve now made a significant roster enchancment for the second time in 4 days, the primary being their commerce for right-hander Edward Cabrera.

With Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, and Seiya Suzuki all attributable to enter free company after the 2026 season, Bregman gives some a lot wanted stability to Chicago’s place participant group. He’ll slot in subsequent to shortstop Dansby Swanson, the primary general choose within the 2015 draft (and the explanation Bregman wears no. 2 on his uniform). Despite the fact that he’ll flip 32 in March, the Cubs are getting probably the greatest third baseman within the sport proper now. Over the previous 4 seasons, Bregman has put up a mixed 17.5 WAR, which ranks 18th amongst place gamers. In that timeframe, he owns three of the highest 20 seasons on the place. The one different participant who can say the identical is José Ramírez. (Bregman’s harm shortened 2025 season additionally is available in at twenty eighth.)

Bregman represents an improve over Matt Shaw, who will presumably shift right into a utility position or discover himself on the buying and selling block. Chicago’s 0.0 WAR at third base in 2025 ranked twenty seventh and made it their worst spot on the diamond, although that wasn’t actually the fault of Shaw, who put up 1.2 WAR at third (and 1.5 general); he was simply canceled out by the unfavourable worth accrued by all 5 of the opposite gamers to spend time on the place. His remaining workforce management might make him an interesting commerce goal, although rumors abound that Shaw might shift to second and Hoerner might find yourself traded. Hoerner is due $12 million in 2026, the final yr of his contract. Coming off a career-best 4.8-win season, his worth has by no means been increased.

How the Cubs resolve their infield logjam – and which different positions they select to bolster – might be fascinating to observe. Even with Cabrera and the eventual return of Justin Steele, our depth charts have the Cubs’ beginning pitching projected for simply 11.2 WAR, which ranks simply nineteenth regardless that it might be an enchancment of practically a full win over the ten.3 mark they put up in 2025. In the event that they’re actually going for it, the apparent subsequent step could be so as to add an impression starter. In the meantime, proper subject was and stays the most important gap on the roster, nevertheless it appears unlikely that the Cubs will hand out one other big deal to fill it with the likes of Bellinger or Tucker. At North Aspect Baseball, Matthew Trueblood wrote that after touchdown Cabrera earlier within the week, possession gave president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer permission to cross into luxurious tax territory. Signing Bregman places them proper on the edge, although it’s nonetheless potential that they’ll duck below it, particularly in the event that they commerce an infielder.

When you’re a Cubs fan and also you need to cease studying right here, be happy to just do that. The remainder of the article might be dedicated to the potential downsides of the deal, and you might be completely entitled take a pair days to get pleasure from watching your workforce make a severe bid at World Collection competition with out worrying about park results and what may occur in 2030.

OK, you’ve been warned. Any long-term deal represents a threat, and Bregman might be 36 on the finish of this one. He’s probably acquired some put on on his tires; since his debut in 2016, his 1,225 video games performed is tied for twenty third most in baseball, and he ranks fifteenth in defensive innings performed. He’s additionally coming off an injury-shortened season the place he fell off fairly arduous within the second half. Then there’s his offensive profile.

Bregman has by no means possessed top-shelf bat velocity or wowed along with his exit velocities. He’s by no means as soon as hit a ball 110 mph, a feat achieved by 308 completely different main leaguers within the 2025 season alone. As an alternative, he’s succeeded by way of a mixture of elite plate self-discipline, elite contact expertise, and a preternatural skill to tug the ball within the air so as to maximize his harm. The excellent news is that plate self-discipline tends to age effectively, however one other technique to describe Bregman’s lift-and-pull tendencies could be to say that his swing is already optimized. He’s already acquired one thing resembling the getting old slugger swing that Joshua Rodrigues described so aptly final week over at Baseball Prospectus. He’s not beginning out with a lot margin for error, so issues might get ugly when his bat velocity or his contact expertise begin to go. And Bregman is already sluggish and a below-average baserunner. He already has a weak arm. When the first-step quickness goes, the protection might crater fairly shortly too.

The extra rapid concern is that Wrigley Area isn’t significantly conducive to Bregman’s offensive strategy. Bregman has spent his complete profession in Houston and Boston, taking part in in parks just about designed for somebody along with his precise swing. The shallow Crawford Bins and the even shallower Inexperienced Monster made him seem like a god. Over the course of the Statcast period, 174 gamers have hit a minimum of 100 residence runs. Bregman’s common residence run distance of 384 toes ranks 173rd. We’re about to search out out for the primary time in his 10-year profession what it seems like when, pleasant or not, the confines aren’t tailored for his swing.

In response to Statcast’s park components, Wrigley Area ranks proper in the midst of the pack by way of residence runs for right-handed hitters and lifeless final for doubles. Extra importantly for Bregman, the left subject nook has a deep cutout; Cubs followers bear in mind effectively the 85 wRC+ and .084 ISO that lifter-puller Isaac Paredes ran throughout his brief stint with the workforce on the finish of the 2024 season. Paredes hit only one ball out at Wrigley, to go together with a number of extra that seemed like hassle for a second earlier than touchdown harmlessly within the left fielder’s glove.

So the draw back is there and it’s scary. Even taking the deferrals under consideration, Bregman will tie up a big proportion of Chicago’s payroll by way of the start of the subsequent decade. Nonetheless, that is in all probability the flawed time for doomsaying. Over the course of his profession, Bregman really has a couple of extra residence runs on the highway than at residence. Ought to he work out how to achieve Wrigley, ought to he age gracefully, he’s acquired an opportunity of ending up in Cooperstown. It will be a minimum of a bit of bit silly to rely out a participant who possesses elite expertise and has a succeeded on the highest stage for so long as Bregman has. It’s encouraging for the Cubs to be on the rise, and it’s much more encouraging to see them appearing prefer it.