The Chicago Cubs are making a statement – and they’re doing it in bold print.
Multiple reports confirm that the Cubs have landed third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year, $175 million deal. It’s a commitment that comes with no opt-outs and a full no-trade clause, signaling a mutual belief in long-term stability.
There’s also $70 million in deferred money baked into the contract, though the structure of those deferrals hasn’t been fully disclosed. For now, the deal carries a headline average annual value of $35 million, but the real financial impact may be a bit softer once the deferrals are fully unpacked.
For Bregman, this marks the next chapter in a career that’s already seen plenty of highs – and some recalibration. Originally drafted No. 2 overall in 2015 out of LSU, Bregman spent his entire career with the Houston Astros before hitting the open market following the 2024 season. His peak came early, with a combined 16.5 bWAR and a 157 OPS+ across 2018 and 2019, numbers that put him in elite company and stamped him as one of the premier third basemen in the game.
While he hasn’t quite recaptured that MVP-caliber form since, Bregman has remained a consistently productive, All-Star-level player. His offensive profile has shifted a bit – the on-base numbers dipped in 2024, falling 50 points below his career average, which may have cooled his free-agent market initially. That led to a short-term pivot: a three-year deal with the Red Sox, loaded with opt-outs and deferrals, that gave both sides flexibility.
That move had ripple effects. With Bregman taking over the hot corner in Boston, the Red Sox dealt Rafael Devers to San Francisco early in the 2025 season, a blockbuster shift in its own right.
Bregman, meanwhile, delivered. Despite missing six weeks with a quad strain, he posted a .273/.360/.462 slash line with a 128 OPS+ in 114 games, helping guide Boston to 89 wins and a playoff berth – their first since 2021 and only their second since that 2018 title run.
The Red Sox wanted him back. Reports suggest they were willing to go to five years, $165 million, but with significant deferrals, the total value likely didn’t match what the Cubs ultimately offered. Bregman opted out of his Boston deal – which had a nominal value of $40 million per year but functioned closer to $32 million annually due to deferrals – and re-entered free agency without the burden of draft pick compensation, having already received a qualifying offer from Houston in 2024.
That opened the door for the Cubs, who, on the surface, weren’t the most obvious fit. Chicago is returning all four of its regular infielders from 2025, and each of them posted at least 3 WAR last season.
But the front office appears ready to reshuffle. Matt Shaw, who handled most of the third base duties last year, is expected to slide into a utility role, giving the Cubs flexibility and depth – and giving Bregman a clear path to everyday reps at third.
It’s also a fun full-circle moment for the 2015 MLB Draft. The Cubs now boast both of the top two picks from that class in their infield: Dansby Swanson, the No. 1 overall pick, holds down shortstop, while Bregman, the No. 2 pick, will now be stationed at third.
Add in Ian Happ, their own ninth overall pick in 2015, roaming the outfield, and you’ve got a trio of top-10 talents from the same draft class all wearing Cubs blue. Even Kyle Tucker, the No. 5 pick that year, spent last season in right field for Chicago before hitting free agency.
This is a move that signals intent. The Cubs aren’t just collecting talent – they’re building a roster with postseason aspirations. And with Bregman now anchoring the infield, Chicago is betting big on veteran leadership, playoff experience, and a bat that still has plenty of juice.
