Cubs Star Is Disproving Narrative About His Contract

A five-year, $175 million contract for third baseman Alex Bregman hasn't always looked like good business for the Chicago Cubs throughout 2026.

Bregman's early-season struggles contributed to a slow start for the Cubs and ultimately led to questions about whether investing in a 32-year-old who had played with a short porch in left field for his entire MLB career was a wise investment for an aging Cubs team.

There can be little doubt now that Bregman's contract was money well spent.

His $26.3 million annual salary may not age well as we get into the later years of his deal and Bregman enters his mid-30s. But the Cubs front office correctly identified the team's need for immediate help. The Cubs are in the middle of a World Series window, with a roster that could not just make the playoffs, but contend for an NL Central title and be one of the best teams in the sport. That's still true today, on August 13, as the Cubs sit 71-50, 3.0 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the division and 3.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the best record in MLB this year.

Bregman has been a huge part of that, especially lately. His three-homer effort against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Bregman's recent success.

Over his last 26 games, Bregman is batting .324 with a 1.054 OPS, including nine doubles and nine home runs in 108 at-bats. It's no coincidence that the Cubs are also 19-7 over those 26 games.

That hot streak brings Bregman's season OPS up to .758, with 16 home runs, 61 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 111. His 3.1 fWAR is almost matching his 2025 total with the Boston Red Sox in close to the same number of games.

Bregman's current pace is for 21 home runs and a 4.1 fWAR season, with an OPS that continues to climb. And that's what you paid him for. The Cubs paid him because, in his 11-year MLB career, Alex Bregman has never had an OPS+ below 110. You know you're getting an above-average hitter, a solid contributor in the lineup, quality defense at third base, and a playoff performer with plenty of experience.

Bregman has played in 102 playoff games throughout his MLB career and taken 380 at-bats. He has 19 home runs and a .791 OPS in the postseason.

So if he continues on his current track, hitting over the final six weeks of the regular season and into the playoffs, he'll very likely finish the year second on the Cubs in fWAR and as one of their more reliable and trustworthy hitters in a playoff series. That's absolutely worth the money spent on his contract, and we have every reason to believe Bregman's production will continue to be there in future years.

Good hitters find a way to bounce back, even after slow starts to the season.