Free agent 3rd baseman Alex Bregman signed a 5 year, $175M contract with the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, averaging out to a $35M per season pact.
The deal will feature no opt outs, and a full no-trade clause, reuniting Chicago with the former Astros All-Star after failing to land him in free agency a season ago. By adding Bregman to the mix, the Cubs now have significant depth across their infield. So much so that the club could look to trade Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw to address other roster needs with the 31 year old on the roster.
Bregman’s new contract comes at an interesting time for the Cubs. The club won 92 games last season, and figure to have as good a shot as any in the wide open NL Central this season. Nevertheless, with only Bregman and Dansby Swanson (signed through 2029) on the payroll long term, their roster could feature a distinctly different look in 2027 if things go sideways this season.
The 2x World Series champion’s bat will likely replace Kyle Tucker’s offence this season. While the addition of Bregman doesn’t necessarily close the door on a reunion with the 6’4″ outfielder, it would seem to indicate the Cubs anticipate the highly coveted slugger signing elsewhere.
Over a 10-year career, Bregman recorded a .272/.365/.481 slash line with 209 HRs, 725 RBIs, and 758 runs scored. The righty won’t bring the same speed element to the base paths as Tucker, having stolen 5 or fewer bases in each of the last 7 seasons, his veteran leadership will be a welcome addition to the clubhouse at Wrigley Field.
Because Bregman turned down Boston’s $22.025M qualifying offer, the Red Sox will receive a compensatory draft pick after the 4th round as a result of him putting pen to paper with Chicago.
Photo: D. Benjamin Miller. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.