The Cubs’ $175 million investment gives Craig Counsell flexibility, depth, and one of the deepest batting orders in baseball.
After back-to-back offseasons of serious interest, the Chicago Cubs finally got their guy on Saturday night.
While the fan base was sweating out a playoff game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, the Cubs made the night even better for Chicago sports fans by landing Alex Bregman on a five-year, $175 million contract.
In total value, it’s the third-largest deal in Cubs history — trailing only Dansby Swanson by $2 million and former outfielder Jason Heyward by $9 million.
That tells you exactly how highly the Cubs think of Bregman.
It took Jed Hoyer and the front office some time to get this across the finish line. Fans had been waiting all winter for a major move, and since the new year, Chicago has delivered by signing Bregman and trading for right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera.
And yes, the Cabrera trade wasn’t my favorite. But both moves clearly address needs. The Cubs are undeniably a better team today than they were just a few weeks ago — which should always be the goal for a franchise with a playoff-caliber roster and one of the highest revenue streams in baseball.
Adding Bregman brings a much-needed impact bat to the lineup, but it also gives manager Craig Counsell real flexibility with young players who still have something to prove at the big-league level.
Here’s a look at a projected 2026 Cubs lineup:
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Alex Bregman, 3B
- Ian Happ, LF
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
- Carson Kelly, C
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Moisés Ballesteros, DH
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
It’s a loaded group from top to bottom, especially if Ballesteros hits and lives up to expectations as a rookie.
And that’s what makes this Cubs team so intriguing now: they have real insurance policies and lineup flexibility.
Matt Shaw — one of the Cubs’ best players during the second half of 2025 — isn’t even locked into a regular role. Shaw hit .258 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs, and an .839 OPS while playing elite defense at third base after the All-Star break.
Yes, Bregman’s arrival could block him there. But Shaw could move to second base if the Cubs ever decide to trade Nico Hoerner — which, for the record, I would not support. The Cubs could also rotate Bregman or Shaw through the DH spot if Ballesteros struggles in his first full MLB season.
Is Bregman a luxury addition? Absolutely. But that’s exactly what the Cubs should be chasing. The best teams in baseball are always trying to get better, even when the roster looks strong on paper. Injuries and underperformance are inevitable.
The Cubs are one of the richest teams in baseball. It’s about time they started acting like it.
This lineup is going to be a fun one to watch.