Signing Alex Bregman Makes Chicago Cubs Favorite To Win NL Central

FILE – Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman fields a groundout hit by Baltimore Orioles’ Jordan Westburg during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, on Aug. 18, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

Reports indicate the Chicago Cubs have landed one of the major free agent prizes of the Major League Baseball offseason.

The Cubs and free agent third baseman Alex Bregman have an agreement in place for a five-year, $175M contract.

Signing Bregman to a massive free agent contract changes the entire landscape of the National League Central Division.

There isn’t a team in the Central that can match the balanced roster the Chicago Cubs have now created.

Bregman, who turns 32 in March, adds a potent bat, and a very solid third base glove to a Cubs team that finished five games behind the Milwaukee Brewers last season.

Reports indicate some of the contract value will be deferred, but Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic indicates the contract should have an average annual value of $30M-$31M.

Bregman’s deal with the Cubs is said to include a no-trade clause, but no opt-out opportunities.

Bregman’s potential new contract brings stability to third base for a Cubs team that has been searching for the right player at that position.

In addition, Bregman’s line-drive bat should play extremely well in Wrigley Field, Bregman’s new home park.

Ironically, Bregman will be playing third base next to shortstop Dansby Swanson. Swanson was the No. 1 selection in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. Bregman was chosen right behind Swanson, at No. 2, by the Houston Astros.

Bregman will likely replace Matt Shaw, the incumbent third baseman.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 27: A detailed shot of the chest logo of Matt Shaw #6 of the Chicago Cubs in a game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on June 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)

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Best In The National League Central Division?

The Cubs have made massive roster changes to close the gap with the Brewers.

To this old scout, the Reds, the Cardinals, and the Pirates don’t come close to matching the depth and balance of productive offensive firepower, solid starting pitching, and a veteran bullpen like the Cubs.

The Brewers may remain tough to beat, but their lack of additions or subtractions to their roster this winter may likely leave Milwaukee running in place, without making progress to a World Championship.

Unless the rest of the National League Central teams make major moves before the start of the 2026 season, the Cubs look to be almost unbeatable for the division championship.

And of course, winning the division would assure them a place in the 2026 postseason.

In addition to the potential signing of Bregman, the Cubs made a huge trade with the Miami Marlins, for right-handed starter, Edward Cabrera.

Cabrera will join Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon on a very respectable starting rotation.

Boyd and Imanaga are left-handed, which gives the Cubs some versatility in their starting staff.

The Cubs also reconstructed their bullpen, by adding right-handed free agent relievers Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, and Jacob Webb, in addition to lefty Hoby Milner.

Right-handed hitting free agent first baseman Tyler Austin was also signed to help shore up an already strong bench.

Alex Bregman speaks at a news conference after he signed a three year contract with the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Suitors For Bregman:

Bregman had signed a three-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. But his contract had opt-out clauses, which he invoked.

A client of Scott Boras, and the Boras Group, Alex Bregman was highly sought after in the free agent market.

It was widely indicated that the Boston Red Sox, the team Bregman played for in 2026, wanted to retain his services. Apparently, the Red Sox failed to meet Bregman’s contract requirements.

In addition to the Red Sox, the Detroit Tigers, and to some degree, the Arizona Diamondbacks expressed interest in signing Bregman.

Of course, there was always talk of teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets wanting to bring Bregman into their fold, but those talks never got much traction.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – APRIL 15: Alex Bregman #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting an RBI double in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on April 15, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

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Conclusions:

This past season with the Boston Red Sox, Bregman hit .273/.360/.462/.821, with 28 doubles, 0 triples, 18 home runs, and 62 RBIs in 495 plate appearances, covering 114 games played.

A proven contact hitter, Bregman struck out only 70 times in 2025, which is a very attractive part of his game.

Alex Bregman may be the big bat at the top of the lineup the Cubs need to score enough runs to support a strong, reliable pitching staff.

To this old scout, the Cubs may easily win the National League Central Division in 2026.

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Here is the story I recently wrote about the Arizona Diamondbacks potential interest in signing Alex Bregman:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/berniepleskoff/2026/01/09/arizona-diamondbacks-may-have-free-agent-alex-bregman-on-a-wish-list