With most of Chicago centered on the Cardiac Bears Saturday evening, the Cubs tried to steal slightly little bit of the highlight by agreeing to a five-year, $175MM contract with free agent Alex Bregman. In doing so, the Cubs land MLBTR’s fifth-ranked free agent to take over on the sizzling nook.
Bregman, a consumer of the Boras Company, bests the contract gives he obtained final offseason. His new contract, the third-largest in Cubs historical past, features a no-trade clause however lacks opt-outs.
When final offseason’s proposals fell wanting Bregman’s expectations, he pivoted to a heavily-deferred three-year, $120MM take care of the Pink Sox. The standard of his 2025 season, plus his ineligibility for a qualifying provide this time round, led to this long-term deal.
MLBTR projected a six-year, $160MM contract for Bregman again in November, which he managed to high on a five-year time period. Although a sixth yr would’ve been a rarity for a participant set to show 32 in March, the five-year size ends in a hefty $35MM common annual worth. That’s simply the best AAV in Cubs historical past, and it’s tied for 14th all-time.
For the Cubs, the addition of Bregman is the largest splash in an lively offseason. The membership acquired younger starter Edward Cabrera from the Marlins three days in the past, including upside to the rotation on the expense of a top-50 prospect in Owen Caissie. The Cubs have largely rebuilt their bullpen with a quintet of free agent signings: Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Caleb Thielbar, Hoby Milner, and Jacob Webb. Additionally they retained swingman Colin Rea and starter Shota Imanaga.
Bregman provides the Cubs a serious offensive improve with out the lack of a draft choose, as he rejected a qualifying provide from the Astros in 2024. His wage brings the workforce’s projected 2026 payroll to $231MM, a full $25MM over final yr’s $206MM determine, in line with RosterResource. In the meantime, their CBT payroll stands at $247.6MM for 2026, placing the Cubs $3.6MM above the primary luxurious tax threshold. The Cubs didn’t exceed the CBT in 2025, so that they’ll reside within the lightest tax bracket in the event that they keep over in ’26.
Bregman, 31, performed in 114 video games with Boston this yr, making 495 plate appearances. Though he missed a month and a half with a proper quad pressure, he continued to excel on offense, batting .273/.360/.462 and grading out 25% higher than common by wRC+. After posting a career-low 6.9% stroll price in his last yr with the Astros, Bregman bumped that as much as 10.3% in 2025. He maintained his repute as a high-contact hitter, along with his 14.1% strikeout price grading out within the 88th percentile. His 90.1 mph common exit velocity and 44.4% hard-hit price had been each profession bests. He additionally continued to carry out nicely defensively, incomes 3 Outs Above Common for his work at third base. General, Bregman’s 2025 contributions had been good for 3.5 fWAR and his third profession All-Star nomination.
Plenty of that got here from his red-hot first two months. On the time of his damage, Bregman had a 156 wRC+ by 226 PA. His manufacturing following his return was extra uneven. He posted a 128 wRC+ in July, adopted by a 108 wRC+ in August and only a 76 wRC+ in September. Within the first half, Bregman was 52% higher than common by wRC+. Within the second half, he was proper round common.
Although he wasn’t his ordinary self within the final two months of the yr, Bregman’s prolonged monitor file nonetheless made him one of many high free brokers on this yr’s class. Since debuting with the Astros in 2016, he has batted .272/.365/.481 with 209 residence runs and a 133 wRC+. His first two All-Star appearances got here in 2018-19. Bregman averaged 8.1 fWAR and completed within the Prime 5 in AL MVP voting in each years, ending because the runner-up in 2019.
Whereas he hasn’t reached these heights within the years since, Bregman has nonetheless been a well-above-average hitter. He has posted a wRC+ between 117 and 137 in yearly from 2020-25. Bregman’s protection has additionally held agency. Because the begin of 2020, he has been value 10 DRS and 17 OAA. He ranks eighth amongst certified third basemen in that span by OAA.
That monitor file, Bregman’s glorious clubhouse repute, and his still-excellent 2025 drew ample curiosity in free company. The Pink Sox had been clearly eager on a reunion, with latest reviews indicating that they had made him an “aggressive” provide. Outdoors of them and the Cubs, his identified suitors included the Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Blue Jays (earlier than they signed Kazuma Okamoto). The Tigers and Cubs had been taken with Bregman final offseason as nicely. Detroit reportedly provided him six years and $171.5MM, albeit with important deferrals. Chicago’s provide was within the four-year, $115MM vary. One yr later, the Cubs dedicated an extra $60MM to lock Bregman up.
Bregman probably sought a $200MM assure throughout the 2024-25 offseason, and even accounting for the deferred cash on this yr’s $40MM wage, the straight $175MM from the Cubs means he’s cleared that bar. It’s a technique we’ve seen Boras execute efficiently with Bregman, Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, and Pete Alonso lately, with Cody Bellinger serving as the following take a look at case.
With Bregman slotting in at third base, probably the most impacted participant on the Cubs’ roster is incumbent third baseman Matt Shaw. As a rookie, Shaw posted a .226/.295/.394 line in 437 plate appearances, good for a 93 wRC+. Factoring in his serviceable protection (-1 DRS), Shaw was value 1.5 fWAR in 2025. That was acceptable manufacturing for the rookie and former high prospect, although there are clear areas for enchancment heading into his sophomore season. Shaw’s common exit velocity and hard-hit price ranked within the third and seventh percentiles, respectively. He additionally struggled in opposition to fastballs, with a -6 run worth in opposition to sinkers and a -1 worth in opposition to four-seamers.
Shaw got here up by the system as a center infielder earlier than shifting to 3rd base in earnest in 2024. At current, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner occupy the shortstop and second base spots on the big-league roster. Swanson is underneath contract by 2029 and received’t be shifting off quick any time quickly. Hoerner has been an above-average hitter and glorious defender prior to now 4 seasons, tallying 17.5 fWAR. Hoerner moved to second base in 2023 in deference to Swanson.
With the 28-year-old Hoerner eligible at no cost company after 2026 – with incomes energy prone to get a lift from his potential to play shortstop – his title has surfaced in commerce rumors this winter. One of the best 2026 Cubs workforce has Hoerner at second base and Shaw in a utility infield position, nevertheless it’s not less than conceivable that both participant may very well be dealt this offseason.
For Pink Sox followers, the previous seven months have supplied a painful sequence of occasions at third base. Rafael Devers was dealt to the Giants in a shock June blockbuster, and now Bregman has departed as nicely. The Pink Sox, the one workforce but to have signed a Main League free agent this winter, might flip to Bo Bichette in the event that they don’t take into account Marcelo Mayer enough at third. Bichette has by no means performed third base, nevertheless, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has but to signal a free agent for greater than Bregman’s three years (which solely lasted one).
Jon Heyman of the New York Submit first broke information of the signing, with ESPN’s Jeff Passan including phrases and Bob Nightengale of USA Immediately offering additional particulars.
