Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms on a five year, $175 million deal, per multiple reports. There are no opt outs on the deal, but the third baseman does get a full no-trade clause. There is also reportedly $70 million in deferrals, though the exact details of the deferrals have not been released, so it isn’t clear how much, if at all, this would lower the $35 million AAV of the deal.
Bregman originally hit the free agent market after the 2024 season, having spent his entire career
with the Houston Astros prior to that. The #2 overall pick out of LSU in 2015, Bregman appeared to have established himself as a superstar after putting up a combined 16.5 bWAR and 157 OPS+ from 2018-19, his second and third full seasons in the league. He hasn’t reached those heights since, however, instead being a pretty consistent All Star caliber player.
After Bregman’s market didn’t develop as hoped following a 2024 season that saw his OBP, in particular, dip 50 points below his career mark, Bregman signed a three year deal with opt outs after each season with Boston. This led to a series of events that ultimately led to Rafael Devers, the incumbent third baseman, being traded by Boston to San Francisco early in the 2025 season. Bregman slashed .273/.360/.462, good for a 128 OPS+, in 114 games, despite missing six weeks with a quad strain, and helped the Red Sox win 89 games and make the playoffs for the first time since 2021, and just the second time since winning it all in 2018.
Bregman’s contract with the Red Sox was for a nominal $40 million per year, though that included significant deferrals that reduced the actual value to around $32 million per year. Bregman chose to exercise his option to opt out of the deal, re-entering the free agent market, this time without draft pick compensation, since he was tendered the qualifying offer by Houston after the 2024 season and thus could not be saddled with a QO this time around.
The Red Sox supposedly really wanted to bring back Bregman, who they valued for his clubhouse presence as well as his on-field performance. Reports indicate that the Red Sox topped out at a five year, $165 million offer with significant deferrals, however,
The Cubs seemed like an unusual fit for Bregman, given that they are bringing back all four of their regular infielders, each of whom put up a bWAR of at least 3 in 2025. The Cubs appear to be planning on using Matt Shaw, who got the bulk of the third base playing time for the Cubbies last year, in more of a utility role.
The Cubs will now have the top two picks from the 2015 Draft in their infield, as Dansby Swanson, the first overall pick that year, mans the shortstop position for them. They also have Ian Happ, who they selected ninth overall in 2015, in the outfield, while Kyle Tucker, the fifth overall pick in 2015, played right field for them last year before hitting the free agent market.
