All-Star Bregman Signs with Cubs

Alex Bregman has officially landed his long-term contract, agreeing to a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs that includes a full no-trade clause. After betting on himself with short-term contracts and opt-outs, the gamble paid off.

Bregman joins Chicago after a single season with the Boston Red Sox, where he signed a three-year deal ahead of the 2025 season that included opt-outs after each year. He exercised that option following a strong but injury-interrupted campaign and re-entered free agency in search of long-term security.

In his lone year in Boston, the Jewish all-star hit .273 with an .821 OPS and 18 home runs across 114 games. He missed most of June with a quadriceps injury but remained productive when on the field. The Red Sox finished 89–73 and third in the AL East. As part of his previous contract structure, Boston will still owe Bregman deferred payments beginning in 2028 and extending into the 2030s.

Now 31, Bregman brings a proven bat and elite infield defense to a Cubs team that is firmly in a win-now window. Chicago went 92–70 in 2025 and reached the National League Division Series, where it was eliminated in five games. Adding Bregman solidifies third base and lengthens a lineup already featuring Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Dansby Swanson.

Before his stop in Boston, Bregman spent nine seasons with the Houston Astros, where he established himself as one of baseball’s premier third basemen. During that stretch, he won two World Series titles, earned multiple All-Star selections, received MVP votes in four seasons, and captured both a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. Across 1,111 games with Houston, he hit .272 with a .848 OPS and 191 home runs.

For his career, Bregman owns a .272/.365/.481 slash line with more than 200 home runs and over 40 wins above replacement. He is known for elite plate discipline, consistent contact, and postseason experience, traits the Cubs have prioritized as they attempt to separate themselves from a competitive NL Central.

Bregman is expected to play third base full-time in Chicago, replacing Matt Shaw. His right-handed, line-drive-heavy approach is viewed as a strong fit for Wrigley Field, and the lack of opt-outs in the deal gives the Cubs long-term stability at a position that has lacked it in recent years.

The contract reshapes the balance of power in the division. With a deep lineup, an upgraded rotation, and a veteran bullpen, Chicago now looks positioned as a clear contender for the NL Central title in 2026. For Bregman, the deal closes a long free-agency saga and secures his future with a team built to compete immediately.