Chicago – The Chicago Cubs have made a significant move this offseason, securing talented third baseman Alex Bregman with a five-year, $175 million contract, according to sources close to the negotiation.
This agreement, which is subject to medical review and official confirmation from the team, includes a no-trade clause and does not provide for early departures. If finalized, this contract will set a new franchise record for average annual value, reaching $35 million, and will be positioned as the third-largest contract in team history, surpassed only by the agreements of Jason Heyward and Dansby Swanson.
A Firm Step for a Competitive Team
The incorporation of Bregman represents a clear statement of intent for a team that showed a strong performance in 2025, achieving 92 victories and advancing to the postseason as a wild card, before falling to the Brewers in the National League Division Series.
During this recess period, management had proposed to reinforce both the starting pitchers and the offense. This week, the team took the first step by acquiring right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera from Miami, and now strengthens the offensive core with the arrival of one of the most coveted free agents.
Bregman, 31 years old, arrives after a productive season with the Boston Red Sox, where he demonstrated his offensive ability with a batting average of .273, an on-base percentage of .360 and a slugging percentage of .462, including 18 home runs, 28 doubles and 62 RBIs in 114 games, despite being affected by a quadriceps injury. His performance earned him his third All-Star Game selection and contributed to Boston’s playoff qualification.
Before his time with the Red Sox, the third baseman had a distinguished career of nine seasons with the Houston Astros, where he won two World Series, was twice champion of the Fall Classic, three-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner.
In his ten seasons in the Major Leagues, Bregman has demonstrated a consistent offensive line of .272/.365/.481, with an OPS+ of 132. In addition, he has been among the top five in the Most Valuable Player voting on two occasions, including a second place in 2019, the year in which he hit 41 home runs.
With the incorporation of Bregman, the Cubs’ infield is reinforced with Dansby Swanson at shortstop, Nico Hoerner at second base, Michael Busch at first base, and Bregman himself at third base. The young Matt Shaw, who had a standout second half as a rookie, could take on a versatile role, adding depth and flexibility to the team.
The Chicago directive is betting heavily on challenging Milwaukee in the National League Central Division and returning to the World Series for the first time since 2016. To achieve this, they are adding a player with extensive experience in nine postseasons and more than 100 playoff games played.
