Bregman, who had opted out of a three-year, $120 million deal with Boston, has signed a five-year, $175 million pact with the Cubs. It is the second-largest contract ever signed by a Jewish ballplayer, behind Max Fried’s $218 million contract in 2024. Bregman previously signed a five-year, $100 million extension with the Houston Astros in 2019.

The Cubs' lineup has a type. And Alex Bregman is it. One of the biggest keys to the Cubs' transformation from a middle-of-the-pack offense in 2024 to a powerhouse playoff offense in 2025 was the way the team adopted a pull power approach up and down the lineup.

Let’s look at Bregman. After signing a short-term, pillow contract with the Boston Red Sox last season, he had one of the better seasons of his career. He hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. He played strong defense. And he established ...