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When the 2025 MLB season ended, the Chicago Cubs were left with a difficult decision. Knowing that they were not going to be able afford (or rather, choose not to afford) Kyle Tucker, Chicago needed to find a player who could replace his offensive output.
As a result, the Cubs signed third baseman Alex Bregman to a lucrative five-year $175 million contract. As he was coming off of a season that saw him hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI, they were confident that hitting in hitter-friendly Wrigley Field would increase his productivity.
So far, it has not. However, it is not too late for him to have a massive impact on the team this season.
Alex Bregman predicted to the Chicago Cubs second-half All-Star
So far this year, Bregman is hitting .241/.336/.363 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI. Needless to say, these are disappointing numbers, far below the level or productivity for a player making $35 million a year.
But the three-time All-Star has a history of heating up as seasons progress, and The Athletic believes he will be Chicago’s “second-half All-Star,” as they stated in their weekly power rankings:
“A year after striking out on the third baseman, the Cubs ponied up the cash and the contract demands to land Bregman. At times during the first half, Chicago probably wished it hadn’t. The 32-year-old is currently in the midst of the worst offensive season of his career, his 97 wRC+ sitting three points below league average.
“There have been some flashes, including a 10-game stretch to close the first half, and the defense is still solid, but Bregman has otherwise been a non-factor for a Cubs team with major October aspirations.
“Fortunately, a hot start plus some historic contributions from Pete Crow-Armstrong have the Cubs in wild-card territory, but a contributing Bregman could mean the difference between hosting a series at Wrigley Field in October and playing on the road.”
As an aside, Chicago was ranked sixth in the power rankings.
Fortunately for the Cubs, they have been able to put together a good enough record that has them on pace for another Wild Card berth. Currently, they are seven games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the NL Central, but are on track to make the postseason again.
That being said, their pitching is highly questionable due to the number of injuries their staff has sustained, and they will need all the offense they can get in order to keep pace.
Bregman should be a big part of that. After all, it is what they are paying him for.
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