Chicago Cubs: The Alex Bregman for Kyle Tucker swap

The Chicago Cubs swapped out some top-tier talent this offseason. Replacing the outgoing Kyle Tucker, Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, and Justin Turner are Alex Bregman, Edward Cabrera, Tyler Austin and a four-pack of relievers (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Hunter Harvey, and Jacob Webb).

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Right now, it’s hard to argue that the Chicago, at least on paper, haven’t improved themselves significantly over a pretty good 2025 squad that made it all the way to game 5 of the NLDS.

The biggest swap from 2025 to 2026, though, is going from Tucker to Bregman.

It’s pretty obvious in hindsight that the Cubs were not all that interested in bringing Tucker back to the team. First, there was the obvious hurdle of money and the massive contract the right fielder wanted, which was initially estimated at as much as $500 million over 10 years. Then, there was an apparent souring on Tucker as the output of the four-time All-Star flat-lined after July 1 amid injury issues and some personality quirks that many interpreted as a lack of fire and/or an unwillingness to play a leadership role on the team.

The Cubs moved on from Kyle Tucker

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In the end, Tucker got his massive contract, just over a shorter period of time, as the Dodgers scooped him up on a ridiculously inflated 4-year, $240 million contract.

Before that, though, the Cubs had declared their disinterest in a returning Tucker by signing third baseman Alex Bregman to a 5-year, $175 million deal.

In Bregman, the Cubs seem to be getting all of the intangibles that Tucker lacked, along with a bat that is at least somewhat comparable. By all accounts, the three-time All-Star is just as valued for his leadership skills and clubhouse presence as he is for his on-field work.

Bregman also brings elite-tier defense at third base while Tucker, in right, proved not to be anywhere as solid defensively as hyped prior to the Cubs trading for him.

Better off with Bregman?

So, are the Cubs better off with Bregman than Tucker? Was the swap a positive for Chicago?

David Adler of MLB.com sees the two stars as “different but equal” in a recent piece on 2026 player projections. His projections for both:

Tucker: 27 HR, 18 SB, 82 RBIs, 139 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
Bregman: 23 HR, 77 RBIs, 121 wRC+, 3.8 WAR

Per Adler:

“Tucker was the marquee signing of the offseason, joining an already star-studded Dodgers team. Bregman was brought in by the Cubs to help replace Tucker, and he’s a star hitter himself. So what do the projections say about the two former Astros teammates? That Tucker and Bregman will be essentially the same level of impact player for their new teams.

Despite being very different types of players, Tucker and Bregman are back to back in Steamer’s WAR projections. Tucker’s skill is pure hitting — he’s projected to be a top-10 bat in the Majors by his 139 wRC+. But Bregman is also a good bat, with a 121 wRC+ projection, and his solid defense at third base makes up the gap.”

Intangibles, however, seem to make Bregman a significantly more valuable asset to the Cubs.

Bregman’s important role

With so much possible turnover heading into 2027 (Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Carson Kelly, and Shota Imanaga, among others, have contracts expiring at the end of 2026), Chicago needs a guy like Bregman. They need a cornerstone presence and strong leadership for what looks to be a vastly different-looking 2027 and beyond.

Tucker just wasn’t that guy.

There’s no denying that Tucker was a linchpin in the Cubs lineup and a big reason the offense excelled over the first half of last season. He’s not an out-front leader, though. He’s much more of a happy background player who just happens to have elite-level ability.

In Bregman, the Cubs got a “best of both worlds” player who will benefit the team, even beyond what he can provide with his hands and feet.

So, yeah, it could be said that “Cubs win” with the Bregman for Tucker swap.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-alex-bregman-kyle-tucker-analysis