Cubs’ $177 Million Star Reveals ‘Challenge’ Of Playing With Alex Bregman

The Chicago Cubs brought in a new face to help lead a charge back to the playoffs next season, but he does already have some marked history with the team.

The Cubs brought in veteran third baseman Alex Bregman with a five-year, $175 million contract, however, the team was already pretty familiar with him after it tried to acquire him last winter.

“The Cubs pursued Bregman prior to last season, but saw him take a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox for 2025 that included an opt-out after the season,” Jordan Bastian noted for MLB.com. “As soon as Bregman decided to hit the open market again, (Cubs president of baseball operations Jed) Hoyer reached out to re-establish interest.”

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Chicago Cubs’ Dansby Swanson Has History With Alex Bregman

And Bregman has an even longer history with another Cubs’ veteran infielder, as he’s long been paired with shortstop Dansby Swanson.

“Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman are already linked as former USA Baseball teammates and World Series opponents,” Patrick Mooney wrote for The Athletic. “They’re connected from their shared status at the top of their draft class and the separate decisions they later made as free agents.”

And now as teammates, the two will be looking to build on the Cubs’ success last year with a trip to the World Series. In addition to his help on defense and in the batting order, Swanson pointed to a particular trait that Bregman brings to the team as he noted his optimism about the addition.

“Good players, great leaders, they get the best out of everyone,” Swanson said, per Mooney. “There are heights that can be reached, ceilings that haven’t been met yet. When you got a guy like Alex, he can help get guys to that point.”

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Chicago Cubs’ Dansby Swanson Wants ‘Challenge’ From Alex Bregman

Though Swanson is comparable to Bregman in many ways, the Cubs’ shortstop has some reason to hope he can access another level to his own game next season. After signing a seven-year, $177 million contract to join the Cubs in 2022 and making the All-Star team in his first season with the club, he’s seen his offensive production regress.

Swanson believes Bregman will make him a bit uncomfortable as a teammate, which he thinks could be a big benefit.

“He’s someone that can really challenge me to be better,” Swanson said, according to Mooney. “From a personality standpoint, from a leadership standpoint, on the field, off the field, I feel like he’s someone who can really push me to be the best version of myself.”