The Chicago Cubs seem braced to lose Kyle Tucker, but another splashy signing could be on the horizon.
According to The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma, “After a failed bid to sign Alex Bregman last spring training, the Cubs have shown renewed interest in the All-Star third baseman, according to sources briefed on the club’s offseason planning.”
Going from Tucker to Bregman would make sense. The Cubs have young outfielders like Owen Caissie and Moisés Ballesteros waiting in the wings, and while Matt Shaw was solid for the Cubs in 2025, Bregman would be an upgrade and allow the Cubs to trot out a truly versatile infield, given that he could also play second base, Shaw can play multiple positions and second baseman Nico Hoerner can also play shortstop in a pinch.
As Mooney and Sharma noted, pitching will likely remain the priority this winter. But the Cubs also offered Bregman a four-year, $115 million deal (that included opt-outs after the second and third seasons) last winter, though he ultimately took Boston’s three-year, $120 million offer and opted out after year one.
The 31-year-old played well for Boston when healthy, hitting .273 with 18 homers, 62 RBI, 64 runs and a .821 OPS across 114 games. The three-time All-Star and two-time champion has hit 20 or more homers five times in his career and has a lifetime .846 OPS, making him the best third baseman on the market and one of the top free agents available, period.
The Cubs are looking to build upon last year’s run to the playoffs, but they’ll have plenty of competition for Bregman’s services. His free agency remains one of the winter’s most intriguing subplots.