Cubs, Alex Bregman agree to 5-year, $175 million deal

The Cubs capped an already notable week with another impact move. They agreed to terms with veteran third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year, $175 million contract, source confirmed Saturday night.

The deal gave the team a boost on the offensive side, after they’d already improved their rotation on Wednesday by trading for right-hander Edward Cabrera.

The Cubs infamously made an effort to sign Bregman last spring. In order to offer him a four-year deal worth $115 million, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer got approval from the Ricketts family to “push” the offseason budget.

The Cubs ultimately lost that bidding war last February, when Bregman signed with the Red Sox.

“Obviously disappointed,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said then. “Great player, great fit. We definitely recognize the opportunity.”

But Bregman three-year, $120 million pact with the Red Sox included two opt-outs. So, when Bregman re-entered the free agent market again this offseason, the Cubs were again in contact with his agent, Scott Boras.

This time, they came out of those discussions with a long-term commitment from the three-time All-Star. Bregman’s deal includes minimal deferrals and a full no-trade clause, according to a source.

Looking to use their drought-breaking playoff appearance last year as a spring board, the Cubs expected most of their offseason improvement to come on the pitching side – see the acquisition of Cabrera.

And though the Cubs made it clear that they were comfortable with a scenario where they used internal options to make up for right fielder Kyle Tucker entering free agency, the addition of Bregman is clearly a better option.

Not to mention, a major piece of the puzzle, top prospect Owen Caissie, went to the Marlins in the trade for Cabrera, and the Cubs will only spend $4.45 million on Cabrera's 2026 salary, after agreeing on that number Thursday to avoid arbitration.

Bregman, 31, missed time last season for a right quad strain, but he still was an All-Star and posted a .821 OPS in 114 games.

The Cubs were in a different position this offseason when they pursued Bregman than they were last spring.

Last year, Bregman would have provided stability at third base with plenty of question marks surrounding Matt Shaw, who was entering his debut major-league season.

Now, the Cubs have proof that Shaw is major-league ready on both sides of the ball, after significant all-around development. But Shaw can also play second base, giving the Cubs flexibility as they continue to shape their roster for 2026.

“There’s zero lack of confidence in Matt – actually, I would say the opposite,” Hoyer said earlier this offseason. “I actually thought there were a lot of huge positives last year. If you told me at the beginning of the year that this was going to be the totality of his season, I would have been like, ‘I’m good. I think we’re in a good place.’ ”

Before this week, the Cubs’ lackluster offseason was full of supplemental moves. But the narrative has completely flipped. In the span of four days, they’ve transformed their winter with two major splashes.