Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman taking flak for offensive doldrums

The Chicago Cubs went out and signed the third baseman of their dreams this past January and were uncharacteristically generous in doing so.

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After unsuccessfully courting Alex Bregman prior to the 2025 season, the front office amped up efforts to bring him aboard this year, eventually landing the three-time All-Star with a 5-year, $175 million deal that would guarantee the 32-year-old a key spot on the roster through the rest of his playing prime.

And while Bregman has been lauded for his leadership role in the clubhouse and his overall welcomed approach to the game, his offensive numbers have been remarkably mid.

This wasn’t an issue when the Cubs were riding high on a pair of 10-game winning streaks. However, now that the team is mired in an ugly 4-game skid, people are starting to grumble.

Bregman garnering attention for low production

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Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report recently spotlighted Bregman as the one Cubs player who “Desperately needs to break out ASAP.”

Per Miller:

“Bregman’s production hasn’t been nearly as underwhelming (or downright woeful) as most of the players on this list. However, the only reason we haven’t been talking on a regular basis about him being one of the biggest disappointments is because the Cubs have one of the best records in spite of his shortcomings.

Bregman’s strikeout rate (16.6 percent) is his worst since his rookie season, while both his slugging percentage (.356) and OPS (.687) are well below his previous career worsts. And prior to homering on Tuesday, he had just one round-tripper in his previous 37 games. Not exactly living up to that five-year, $175M contract thus far.”

The former Astros and Red Sox star, currently sporting a .246 batting average and .694 OPS, has been absolutely league-average across the board in most offensive categories. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s also not a great thing for someone who was expected to assume a veteran on-field leadership role. The fear for many is that “league average” right now, as he’s working on the back side of his physical prime, may turn into a deep free fall sooner than anyone had anticipated. The elevated strikeout rate is especially concerning in that regard.

Too early to panic?

But maybe, also, there’s a bit of still-unfounded panic in worries about the veteran. A case could be made that Bregman has actually been the hottest Cub through the team’s recent 4-game slump and offensive drought, posting a .333 average with a home run and an RBI in his three games played over that stretch.

Regardless, Chicago is not likely to sit Bregman down anytime soon. They have too much invested in him and, also, too much belief in what he might eventually bring to the lineup. Having a capable third base sub in Matt Shaw readily available, though, does give manager Craig Counsell the opportunity to rest the veteran and pull him from potentially unfavorable matchups on occasion.

Right now, there’s no reason to hit the panic button about Bregman. It’ll be another story if it’s August and the Cubs’ prized free agent acquisition is still a middle-of-the-pack offensive presence.

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