The 2026 MLB season has been a roller-coaster ride for the Chicago Cubs. Hot and cold stretches for several players have led to multiple hot and cold stretches for the team across the first 90 games.

One player who Chicago will need if it has any hopes of a deep postseason run is third baseman Alex Bregman.

Alex Bregman has not lived up to the contract he was given

Chicago had aggressively pursued Bregman in the 2024 offseason but failed to land him. The two sides finally got together again in the 2025 offseason, and Bregman inked a five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs.

Bregman has struggled to find his footing in Chicago, as he's posted a measly slash line of .241/.340/.345 and an OPS of just .685 with only seven home runs in 88 games played. Those numbers are well below what was expected of Bregman headed into the season.

Alex Bregman has the 2nd MOST plate appearances with runners on base.

Alex Bregman has the 2nd WORST batting average with runners on base (min. 170 PA).

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Entering Monday, Bregman and Cubs teammate Ian Happ are atop a list that no player wants to be on. Happ and Bregman rank Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the category of runners left on base this season.

Happ has the most with 196, and Bregman is right behind with 189. That is a worrisome sign for Bregman, who is hitting .184 with runners in scoring position, a mark that would be the worst of his career by nearly 50 average points. Bregman has hit over .300 with RISP five times in his MLB career and is a career .283 hitter with RISP.

Bregman is in his age-32 season and will be 36 when his Cubs contract comes to an end. With a no-trade clause being included in the deal, Bregman will likely play all five years of the deal out in Chicago.

With his age increasing and production decreasing, there is a chance that in five years, Bregman is considered among one of the worst free-agent signings in franchise history.