CHICAGO — Star third baseman Alex Bregman has agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The people spoke to The Associated Press Saturday evening on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical. The contract includes a no-trade clause allowing Bregman to block transactions without his consent.
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Bregman, who turns 32 in March, was back on the market for a second straight offseason. He was also pursued by the Cubs before signing a three-year, $120 million contract with Boston last February, with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons.
He decided to test free agency again after hitting .273 for the Red Sox with 18 homers and 62 RBIs in 114 games, his fewest since 2021. Bregman missed all of June with a quadriceps injury.
He made $40 million in his single season with Boston, including $15 million last year. The Red Sox owe him $5 million in January 2028 and $2 million in June from 2035 to 2044.
Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 – although the first of those resulted in a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates much scorn.
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When the Gold Glove winner joined the Red Sox, they already had All-Star Rafael Devers at third base. Boston asked Devers to join DH, and the team’s relationship with the slugger deteriorated to the point that Devers was traded to San Francisco in June.
Boston ended up leading the major leagues in errors, but the Red Sox returned to the postseason for the first time in four years. Bregman’s OPS of .822 was his best since 2019, and he earned All-Star honors for the third time.
Chicago finished second in the NL Central last year with a 92-70 record. The Cubs reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020 before being eliminated by Milwaukee in a five-game series.
The Cubs used Matt Shaw at third base last season, and the rookie played stellar defense while hitting .226 with 13 homers, 44 RBIs and 17 steals in 126 games. Shaw can also play second base, but Nico Hoerner is a two-time Gold Glove winner at that position.
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There could be another trade on the horizon to clarify the team’s on-field situation, or Shaw could move into a super-utility role with the arrival of Bregman.
The addition of Bregman was the Cubs’ second major move in a matter of days. They acquired the right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.
ESPN was first to report Bregman’s deal with the Cubs.
