CHICAGO -- Alex Bregman has made a statement with the number he has donned on his uniform throughout his baseball career. That continued on Thursday morning, when the star third baseman tried on his new Cubs jersey at Wrigley Field, showing off No. 3 as his new digit during his introductory press conference.
“I wore No. 3 because I want a third championship,” Bregman said.
As the story goes, Bregman wore No. 30 at Louisiana State during his college years as a reminder that every team passed on him in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He has worn No. 2 over the past decade in the Majors -- chosen after he went second overall in the ‘15 Draft behind Dansby Swanson.
That heightened self-confidence Bregman has carried with him since his amateur playing days is a trait that has always caught the eye of Jed Hoyer. The Cubs president of baseball operations admired Bregman from afar for years -- dating back to those pre-Draft scouting days -- and finally seized a chance to land him.
“Anyone that’s spent time around our office, around me,” Hoyer said, “knows that this is a player that I’ve coveted for a long time. … Every account I’ve ever gotten with Alex -- from college, Minor Leagues, two organizations in the Major Leagues -- it’s that this is truly an incredible teammate, and someone that is focused every single day on us winning.”
Bregman arrived at Wrigley Field on Thursday as the newest member of a team aiming to build off its trip to the National League Division Series last season.
The Cubs signed the 31-year-old Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract, including $70 million in deferments, sources told MLB.com. He will take over at third, alongside Swanson, who helped Chicago build to its current era of contention when he signed a seven-year, $177 million deal prior to the 2023 season.
Bregman is a three-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and one-time Gold Glove winner who immediately helps a roster that saw star outfielder Kyle Tucker hit free agency this winter. While the North Siders made the playoffs via a Wild Card berth last season, the ballclub should be aiming for a division crown this year.
“The two most important things to me are my family and winning baseball games,” Bregman said. “From the beginning of the offseason, the Cubs expressed to me that they wanted me to be here, and they were really committed to that and committed to my family.
“I cannot wait to get to work with all the guys on the team in that clubhouse. Hopefully, we win a lot of baseball games and build something really special for a long time together.”
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. As soon as Bregman decided to hit the open market again, Hoyer reached out to re-establish interest.
Hoyer met with Bregman's agent, Scott Boras, during the GM Meetings in November and continued their dialogue (including evolving offers), leading to the contract coming to fruition on Saturday night. Bregman called it a “normal Saturday” until about an hour before the Chicago Bears’ playoff game against the rival Packers.
As negotiations gained steam, Bregman said his wife began researching places to live in Chicago. And during the third quarter of the NFL game, while the Bears were mounting a comeback, news broke that the sides had reached a contract.
“We had the game on,” Bregman said with a laugh, “and I said, ‘This could go one of two ways. I hope they come back and win.’”
The Bears completed a wild comeback to knock out their rivals, creating a momentous day for Chicago’s sports fans. Bregman attended a Bulls game and a Blackhawks game while in town this week, and will attend the Bears’ next playoff game, against the Rams, after Cubs Convention wraps up on Sunday.
“It wasn’t ideal timing, but it ended up kind of perfect,” Hoyer said of the deal occurring during the Bears game. “I think [the score] was 21-6 -- they were down -- when the news broke. I think Bears fans will be excited to see Alex at the game in attendance. It’s so great to see this city alive and talking about the Bears. It’s been an incredible run. It’s a great team to watch.
“I think in a lot of ways, it’s kind of inspirational for us, too. We had that this October for a minute. And you want to get back there, because this city really does respond when you’re winning.”
Once the deal was done, Bregman and his wife went out to dinner to celebrate and swung by the Arizona home of Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon to talk about the road ahead. By that point, Bregman had already texted and had a quick phone call with Swanson, and he was excited to get to Chicago to meet even more teammates at the convention.
Adding Bregman serves as the exclamation point to a busy winter for the Cubs, too.
Chicago also addressed the rotation on Jan. 7 by landing hard-throwing righty Edward Cabrera from the Marlins for three prospects (including outfielder Owen Caissie, the No. 47 prospect in baseball). The Cubs also overhauled the bullpen, adding four new arms (highlighted by a two-year deal for Phil Maton) on MLB deals.
Bregman has spent parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues (nine with the Astros and one with the Red Sox). He has 209 career homers, 293 doubles, 725 RBIs, an .846 OPS and four seasons during which he posted more walks than strikeouts.
Hoyer said his desire to bring Bregman into the fold extends beyond the numbers. The veteran has a strong reputation as a leader and mentor, and the Cubs have already seen some of that in practice.
Bregman asked Hoyer for reports on Chicago’s players so he can be looped in on what they are working on. He requested a meeting with the Cubs’ player development staff in Arizona to discuss hitting philosophy, so Bregman knows he is focused on the right things in conversations with teammates and Minor Leaguers. He informed Hoyer he plans to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, but insisted it would not interfere with his work with the North Siders.
“In four or five days he’s been a Cub,” Hoyer said, “there’s already been countless examples of things he’s been working on that no one’s asked him to do. I think that’s how he thinks about his role. It’s not just getting his workouts in. It’s about making sure he’s integrated with the entire team.”
Now, Bregman wants to get to work on that third ring.
“I feel like there’s an excitement in the air about Cubs baseball,” he said. “And I can’t wait to get after it and get out there on the field.”