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The only thing that could come close to the Chicago Bears' comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, in terms of surprise, was the fact that it was the Cubs that passed out a $175M deal to the All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman. Bregman's five-year deal with the Cubs includes no opt-outs, and the veteran will also have a full no-trade clause.
Setting aside the circumstances of this offseason, letting Kyle Tucker walk in free agency and trading Owen Caissie, the Cubs have been enamored with Bregman for a long time.
The Cubs pursued the 31-year-old last offseason, but it took ownership approval for the front office to extend their budget beyond what had already been planned. That limited the offer from the Cubs, floating out a four-year deal worth $115M. Bregman ultimately settled for a three-year deal with the Boston Red Sox that included an opt-out after each year.
One of the reasons why the Cubs don't include opt-outs in most of the free-agent deals they make is because of the situation the Red Sox now find themselves in. They wake up today without Rafael Devers and without the last year's addition that was supposed to negate the loss of Devers.
Projecting the 2026 Cubs starting lineup after the shocking signing of Alex Bregman
Bregman's arrival now gives the Cubs a lineup that, on paper, is capable of winning the National League Central and finding success in October.
2B Nico Hoerner
Now that the Cubs actually have Bregman in the fold, there may be an uptick in trade rumors involving Nico Hoerner. It still would be a surprise, as the biggest benefit of the All-Star third baseman being in the lineup is that it pushes Matt Shaw into a super-utility role. As long as the current roster construction holds up, Hoerner should be the leadoff hitter.
1B Michael Busch
Michael Busch still can make a case for being the Cubs' best overall hitter. He led the team in home runs last year, and with Craig Counsell planning to play Busch against left-handed pitchers next season, the first baseman could be the cornerstone of the team's lineup.
3B Alex Bregman
Counsell will likely use Bregman in multiple spots in the starting lineup throughout the season. For now, considering his ability to draw walks and avoid strikeouts, it makes sense for the All-Star to open the season as the No. 3 hitter.
RF Seiya Suzuki
No longer having Tucker or Caissie on the roster, the Cubs will turn to Seiya Suzuki to fill their need in right field. Assuming Suzuki's power output from last season returns, he is a natural option for the cleanup spot.
DH Moises Ballesteros
Ballesteros now has a clear runway to serve as the Cubs' designated hitter. There may be games where Counsell elects to have a veteran in this spot due to the matchup, but Ballesteros proved last September that he can have a significant impact with regular plate appearances.
LF Ian Happ
As was the case last season with Tucker's arrival, Bregman's arrival allows the Cubs not to be overly dependent on Ian Happ. Happ will have cold spells throughout the regular season, but he remains one of the most consistent players in the team's starting lineup.
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
2025 was an electric season for Pete Crow-Armstrong, but his finish proved that he is not quite a complete project at the Major League level. If Crow-Armstrong finds the offensive consistency that alluded him during the closing weeks of last year, he can easily find his way back near the top of the lineup.
SS Dansby Swanson
For Better or worse, the Cubs know what type of offensive player Dansby Swanson is. He is good for 20 home runs every season, and likely will finish each year with above-average metrics. Counsell pulled the trigger on moving Swanson down in the lineup last year, and that should continue in 2026.
C Carson Kelly
Carson Kelly rounds out the Cubs' starting lineup, and if he has a similar season to the one he had last year, the Cubs certainly won't complain. A healthy Miguel Amaya is also expected to factor into the catching situation this year, and it could eventually lead to a 50-50 split.
This is one of the most well-rounded starting lineups the Cubs will have deployed in recent memory, which likely speaks to the reason why they were comfortable pushing all their chips to the middle of the table when it came to finalizing a deal with Bregman.