Cubs' Alex Bregman gamble gets ultimate validation with Silver Slugger nomination

Alex Bregman has been a central figure in the story of the Chicago Cubs over the last two years. In 2025, the Cubs stepped outside of their comfort zone to try and land Bregman in free agency, but with a capped offer, they stood no chance against the Boston Red Sox. The Cubs made up for that mistake last offseason, taking advantage of the Red Sox dragging their feet, and signing Bregman to a five-year deal worth $175 million.

It was clear in 2025 that the Cubs clearly were missing the presence that would have been Bregman. While they've essentially confirmed as much when talking about his traits during his introductory press conference last offseason, the start to his tenure was far from…