Cubs Updated Starting Lineup, Payroll After Alex Bregman's $175M Contract

The Chicago Cubs are adding batting power to their lineup for the 2026 season.

The Cubs reportedly signed star third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract, according to multiple Saturday night reports.

Here's a look at the Cubs projected starting lineup following Bregman's reported signing, courtesy of FanGraphs.

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1. Michael Busch, 1B
2. Alex Bregman, 3B
3. Ian Happ, LF
4. Seiya Suzuki, RF
5. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
6. Carson Kelly, C
7. Moisés Ballesteros, DH
8. Dansby Swanson, SS
9. Nico Hoerner, 2B

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Bregman's signing raises questions about how third baseman Matt Shaw would fit into the lineup.

The Cubs have a projected cash payroll of just over $176 million for the 2026 season prior to signing Bregman, per Spotrac.

That was projected to rank 11th among all MLB clubs next season, according to Spotrac.

The Cubs were also projected to have $35.2 million in projected tax space next season prior to Bregman's signing, per Spotrac.

That puts Chicago on track to exceed the luxury tax in 2026 after coming in below the threshold last season.

The Cubs may have been willing to exceed the tax last season, however, had their plans to acquire Bregman come to fruition earlier.

Chciago reportedly offered Bregman a four-year, $115 million deal ahead of the 2025 season. Bregman instead inked a three-year, $120 million deal with the Boston Red Sox.

The Cubs ultimately turned to rookie Matt Shaw as their full-time third baseman last season.

Shaw finished the season having slashed .226/.295/.394 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI in 126 games, and Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said in December the club had "confidence" in Shaw going forward.

The Cubs may now have to make a decision regarding whether to keep Shaw or Nico Hoerner, who won a Gold Glove last season after recording plus-15 outs above average at second base, per Baseball Savant.

Chicago could either keep Hoerner at second base and trade Shaw or use him as a utility player, or move Shaw over to second while trading Hoerner.

The New York Yankees have been linked to an interest in Hoerner, MLB insider Jim Bowden said in a recent appearance on MLB radio.

Whatever the ultimate configuration of the Cubs' infield, bringing in Bregman and potentially exceeding the luxury tax signals the club's goals to build on last season's postseason run.

In their first postseason appearance since 2020, the Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card series only to lose to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.

Chicago will hope adding a slugger like Bregman will help them take the next step toward NLCS contention in 2026.