Alex Bregman has the power, the glove, and the mentality the Cubs were looking for. Did they know what Mark DeRosa didn’t about him?

The Chicago Cubs signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal during free agency this offseason. Not a moment too soon, either, here in Chicago. Just ask Chicago Bears fans.

The Cubs needed power to add to their lineup while maintaining defensive integrity. They and Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, were able to make a deal to bring Bregman to the north side of Chicago. If not for that, he may have gone back to Boston, where he played with the Red Sox for one season.

Bregman has a power stroke that has contributed to 209 home runs during his 10-year career. He also creates scoring opportunities and prevents them on the defensive side at the hot corner. Bregman is a three-time All-Star and a two-time World Champion, all with the Houston Astros. He came to Chicago and chose the number 3 because he believes he will win his third championship here.

The bat, the defense, and the mentality all check the boxes the Cubs needed to sign Bregman. However, I wonder if the Cubs knew something about Bregman that his Team USA skipper, former Cub Mark DeRosa, did not.

Story continues below.

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Alex Bregman Answered a Question in Spanish, and Mark DeRosa Was in Disbelief

Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman plays a very important role in the heart of Team USA’s lineup for the World Baseball Classic. Team USA is playing its pool-stage games in Houston, Texas, where Bregman began his career with the Astros. A reporter asked Bregman a question in Spanish, and Bregman answered right back in Spanish.

“I didn’t know you spoke Spanish,” said Team USA’s manager, Mark DeRosa.

Bregman smiled and shrugged back, saying, “It was probably really bad.”

At the beginning of the 2025 season, nearly 30% of rostered MLB players were of Latino descent. One would have to believe the majority of those players speak Spanish primarily. It’s not required or expected, but some might feel the need to learn English when coming to America. Bregman flipped this narrative, being a primary English-speaking player who learned Spanish.

To the Cubs and the teams Bregman played for before 2026, he was and still is known for being a leader whom all players swarm to. It showed early in camp, and it is now showing for Team USA. Taking the time to learn to communicate with as many teammates as he can is certainly in play as to why and how Bregman knows Spanish. It is a very cool and good thing to see.