{"id":136045,"date":"2026-01-07T13:18:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T13:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=136045"},"modified":"2026-01-07T13:18:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T13:18:35","slug":"cubs-move-signals-alex-bregman-is-no-longer-in-their-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=136045","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Move Signals Alex Bregman Is No Longer in Their Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGE: Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (2) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at Fenway Park. \/ Brian Fluharty \/ Imagn Images<\/div>\n

Alex Bregman Re-Ups with Red Sox: What It Means for the Cubs and the Market That Missed<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Alex Bregman sweepstakes are officially over-and the Boston Red Sox have come out on top once again. The star third baseman is staying in Beantown, agreeing to a three-year, $120 million deal that carries a hefty $40 million average annual value. But there\u2019s a twist: $20 million of each year is deferred, which means Boston is spreading out the financial hit while still locking in one of the most consistent infield bats in the game.<\/p>\n

For the Chicago Cubs, who were very much in the mix, this marks another near-miss in their pursuit of a high-impact bat. They reportedly offered Bregman the same total value-$120 million-but over four years, which would\u2019ve paid him $30 million annually. That $10 million difference in AAV, along with the Red Sox\u2019s willingness to structure the deal with deferrals and opt-outs, likely tipped the scales in Boston\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s break down what this means for both Bregman and the teams that chased him.<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

\n

Red Sox Make Their Move<\/h3>\n

Boston\u2019s commitment to Bregman wasn\u2019t just financial-it was strategic. They were willing to get creative to keep him in the fold.<\/p>\n

The deal includes opt-outs after each of the first two seasons, giving Bregman flexibility and leverage moving forward. It\u2019s a short-term pact with elite AAV, and it keeps the Red Sox competitive while they continue to develop their young core.<\/p>\n

Bregman is coming off a solid 2025 campaign, where he slashed .273\/.360\/.462 with 18 home runs and a 125 wRC+ in 114 games. He looked like his old self before a quad injury sidelined him for seven weeks.<\/p>\n

Pre-injury, he was raking-.299\/.385\/.553. Post-injury?<\/p>\n

A noticeable dip to .250\/.338\/.386. Still, the overall body of work was strong enough to warrant big money, and Boston clearly believes he\u2019s worth the bet.<\/p>\n

\n

Cubs Swing and Miss Again<\/h3>\n

Chicago\u2019s pursuit of Bregman dates back to last offseason, when they also came up short. Back then, they reportedly offered a four-year, $120 million deal-essentially the same offer they made this time around. But once again, it wasn\u2019t enough to get Bregman to Wrigleyville.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s interesting here is the Cubs\u2019 approach. They\u2019ve made it clear they\u2019re not in the business of using deferred money in contracts, which may have been a sticking point.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Red Sox leaned on deferrals to make the numbers work, just as they did in their previous deal with Bregman. That kind of flexibility can make all the difference in a tight race for a marquee free agent.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also worth noting that the Cubs have publicly downplayed the idea of adding a major bat this offseason. Most of their offseason chatter has centered around pitching-both in the rotation and the bullpen.<\/p>\n

Names like Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, and Michael King have been floated in connection to Chicago. But Bregman was one of the few position players they were seriously linked to, and now he\u2019s off the board.<\/p>\n

\n

Third Base Still a Need in Chicago<\/h3>\n

Even with the emergence of Matt Shaw in the second half of 2025, the Cubs finished in the bottom five in MLB in offensive production from third base. That\u2019s a tough pill to swallow for a team looking to take the next step. Shaw showed promise, but banking on a young player to carry the load at a premium position is a gamble-especially for a team with postseason aspirations.<\/p>\n

Financially, the Cubs have room to maneuver. With Dansby Swanson as the only position player locked into guaranteed money beyond 2026, there\u2019s flexibility to make a splash-either now or at the trade deadline. But with Bregman off the market, the pool of elite bats just got shallower.<\/p>\n

\n

Tigers, Astros Also Come Up Short<\/h3>\n

This wasn\u2019t a two-horse race. The Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros were also in the mix late in the process.<\/p>\n

Detroit reportedly made the biggest offer-six years, $171 million. Houston wasn\u2019t far behind with a six-year, $156 million bid.<\/p>\n

Both teams were willing to go long-term, but Bregman chose the shorter deal with Boston\u2019s structure and familiarity.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a reminder that sometimes, it\u2019s not just about the total dollars. Fit, flexibility, and contract structure can be just as important-especially for a player like Bregman, who\u2019s looking to maximize both his earnings and his control over the next phase of his career.<\/p>\n

\n

What\u2019s Next for the Cubs?<\/h3>\n

Now that Bregman is off the board, the Cubs\u2019 front office will have to pivot. Whether that means circling back to the trade market or looking at other free agent bats remains to be seen. But the need at third base hasn\u2019t gone away, and neither has the pressure to add more firepower to a lineup that lacked consistency last season.<\/p>\n

Pitching may still be the top priority, but Chicago can\u2019t afford to ignore the offensive side of the equation. If they want to contend in a loaded National League, they\u2019ll need more than just arms-they\u2019ll need impact bats. And with Bregman now locked in with Boston, the search continues.<\/p>\n

\n

Final Word<\/h3>\n

Alex Bregman\u2019s decision to re-sign with the Red Sox is a win for Boston and a missed opportunity for the Cubs. It underscores the importance of contract creativity and timing in today\u2019s free agent market.<\/p>\n

For Chicago, the focus now shifts to finding the next best fit-whether through free agency or trade. The hot corner remains a question mark, and the Cubs still have work to do.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IMAGE: Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (2) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":136046,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-136045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nCubs Move Signals Alex Bregman Is No Longer in Their Plans - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=136045\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cubs Move Signals Alex Bregman Is No Longer in Their Plans - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"IMAGE: Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (2) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=136045\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-07T13:18:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rinrin-59.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"XuanTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"XuanTan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=136045\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=136045\",\"name\":\"Cubs Move Signals Alex Bregman Is No Longer in Their Plans - 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