The Chicago Cubs made a major investment in Alex Bregman during the MLB offseason, signing the veteran third baseman to a five-year, $175 million contract. For much of the first half, however, that decision looked questionable as Bregman struggled to produce at the level expected of a player making that kind of money.
Now, things have changed dramatically, with Bregman becoming one of the biggest reasons for Chicago’s second-half success.
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Bregman has completely turned things around
Bregman’s first half was certainly not what the Cubs envisioned when they handed him the largest contract in franchise history by average annual value. His production was underwhelming, and there was growing pressure for the veteran to start looking more like the player Chicago believed it was signing.
That has finally happened.
Bregman has been one of the Cubs’ most productive hitters since the All-Star break, and his turnaround has been impossible to miss. He has delivered several enormous performances during the second half, including a three-homer, seven-RBI game against the Nationals on Aug. 12.
He has also come through repeatedly in the biggest moments. Bregman delivered the game-tying and game-winning singles in consecutive games against the White Sox, helping Chicago secure back-to-back walk-off victories.
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Cubs finally getting their money’s worth
That’s exactly what Chicago needed when it signed Bregman.
The Cubs didn’t give him $175 million simply because of his reputation. They expected him to be a middle-of-the-order presence capable of producing in important games and providing veteran leadership to a team with legitimate postseason aspirations.
After a disappointing first half, Bregman is finally looking like that player.
His overall 2026 numbers now sit at .255 with 16 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .749 OPS, but those numbers don’t tell the entire story of his season.
The timing of his resurgence could hardly be better. Chicago is playing meaningful baseball in August, and Bregman has become a major contributor during the team’s push.
If this version of Bregman sticks around through September and into October, the Cubs could look back at his slow start as nothing more than a bump in the road.
For now, though, the offseason acquisition is finally starting to look like the star addition Chicago hoped it would be.
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