Cubs finally land big fish out of nowhere by stealing Alex Bregman from Red Sox

With all of Chicago preoccupied by the Bears' battle with the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field, Jed Hoyer decided to steal back some overnight headlines by finally accomplishing his 2024-25 Plan A. Alex Bregman, one year later than many expected, is a Chicago Cub.

Bregman signed with the Red Sox last winter on a three-year pact for $40 million annually, but opted out at the end of the season despite, for all intents and purposes, developing into a leader in the Boston clubhouse instantly. It seemed impossible to believe that he'd earn more on an annual basis this offseason, but if he could obtain security ahead of the looming lockout, that would seemingly satisfy his desires.

Until (checks watch) literally Saturday night, the assumption was he would eventually find something close to what he wanted in Boston. Instead, he landed at $35 million annually for five seasons with YOUR Chicago Cubs.

This happened about a half-day after Red Sox manager Alex Cora appeared at Fenway Fest and noted that the "ball" was in Bregman's proverbial "court". Apparently, he took it and dunked it into the hoop at the United Center.

Chicago Cubs sign Alex Bregman to big-money five-year deal after one season with Boston Red Sox

Bregman found himself in the MVP conversation during the first half of the 2025 season, hitting .298 with 11 homers and a .927 OPS in 53 pre-All-Star break games. Of course, he did come down with a hamstring issue prior to the end of the half, and was significantly slowed when he returned, experiencing a .200 point drop in OPS upon his return.

Still just 31 years old (32 by the time Opening Day rolls around), Bregman will now round out his prime as a member of the Cubs after they (seemingly) half-heartedly pursued him last year, preferring to see what Matt Shaw could provide in his pre-arbitration years.

What happens now? You can seemingly rule Cody Bellinger out of Chicago's plan, despite the outfield vacancy, but a Nico Hoerner trade (in his final year of team control) seems plausible. Perhaps they keep all their stars and float Shaw into no-man's land.

Regardless, the Cubs have acquired Edward Cabrera and Bregman, a three-time All-Star and one of the game's great guiding hands, over the course of the past few days. That is the level of big-market maneuvering that fans and analysts alike have been begging to see from Chicago's braintrust.