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Cubs Defend $175 Million Alex Bregman Decision After Red Sox Move
SportsMoney Cubs Defend $175 Million Alex Bregman Decision After Red Sox Move By Peter Chawaga ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Chawaga is a writer and editor covering Major League Baseball. Follow Author Aug 25, 2026, 07:30am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary The Chicago Cubs are increasingly comfortable with their risky five-year, $175 million signing of veteran infielder Alex Bregman. After opting out of his Red Sox deal, Bregman's uneven first half gave way to a powerful second-half surge, validating the Cubs' investment. He boasts a .973 OPS in the second half, with 12 of his 19 homers coming post-All-Star break, including crucial high-leverage hits and walk-offs. Manager Craig Counsell defended the move, citing Bregman's quality and the scarcity of top talent. Beyond his bat, Bregman offers Gold Glove defense and extensive postseason experience, with 102 playoff games and 19 homers. His multi-faceted impact is proving the Cubs' decision sound, despite the long-term age risk.
The Chicago Cubs took a significant financial risk when they signed veteran infielder Alex Bregman, but the organization now appears increasingly comfortable with the decision after watching the veteran third baseman deliver the kind of postseason-caliber performances he has consistently delivered at his best.
Bregman was the focus of Cubs’ interest before ultimately signing with Chicago this past offseason. After opting out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox, however, the Cubs decided to change their approach.
“The Cubs had substantially raised the proposal from their final offer leading into the 2025 season, when the Boston Red Sox signed Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract with opt-out flexibility,” Patrick Mooney reported for The Athletic . “Once Bregman reentered the free-agent market, Chicago structured a longer and bigger deal for an older player.”
Though signing Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal that included $70 million in deferred money was a risky proposition, given his age, the Cubs are getting results that make the investment easier to defend.
Bregman’s first half in his debut Chicago season was uneven, particularly offensively, but his second-half surge has helped change the conversation around that contract.
Bregman entered last weekend with a .973 OPS in the second half, while 12 of his 19 home runs had come since just before the All-Star break.
His recent production has included several high-leverage moments. During back-to-back walk-off victories over the Chicago White Sox, Bregman collected five hits, a walk and two two-out RBIs. He then homered twice against Seattle, including a ninth-inning shot against star reliever Andres Munoz.
That type of performance is precisely why Chicago believed Bregman was worth bending its usual financial parameters, as manager Craig Counsell explained while defending the decision to sign Bregman after he opted out of his Red Sox contract.
“Because he’s a good player, mostly,” Counsell said, per Mooney. “And then you’re looking at what’s available and who you think you can attract and what the contract’s going to be. People sometimes think there’s, like, this unlimited supply of good players out there. It’s got to fit.”
The Cubs were not simply paying for Bregman’s offensive production. His defensive reputation, experience and postseason track record were central parts of the equation.
Bregman has appeared in 102 postseason games, producing 19 home runs, 55 RBIs and a .791 OPS. That experience matters for a Chicago team with postseason ambitions and a roster increasingly built to compete deep into October.
His Gold Glove-caliber defense at third base also provides a baseline of value even when his bat is not producing at an elite level.
There is still plenty of time remaining on Bregman’s massive contract, and the long-term risk associated with paying a 32-year-old through his age-36 season has not disappeared. But Chicago did not make the decision expecting Bregman to be perfect every month. It wanted a dependable veteran capable of impacting winning in multiple ways.
So far, Bregman’s resurgence is giving the Cubs exactly the evidence they need to defend their $175 million decision.
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