Overview
- Alex Bregman agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs that includes roughly $70 million in deferred payments, according to multiple reports.
- Boston was reportedly in the $160–$165 million range with significant deferrals and no-trade protections unresolved, and team officials are described as disappointed after losing out.
- Bregman’s arrival creates an infield surplus in Chicago, raising the possibility that Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw could be moved, though the Cubs are not obligated to trade either player.
- With Bregman off the board, league reporting indicates the Red Sox are expected to pivot to Bo Bichette, and the Phillies are said to have a video meeting scheduled with him on Monday.
- Analysts project the Cubs’ payroll to rise to roughly $231 million, the highest in franchise history, as the deal reshapes perceptions of the club’s spending posture.