Chicago Cubs fans are experiencing a whirlwind of excitement, sparked by the team’s recent acquisition of star third baseman Alex Bregman, a move that followed a victory for the Chicago Bears. Crow-Armstrong’s Instagram story perfectly captured the sentiment: “Bears and BREGMAN. What is my life?!”
the addition of bregman is poised too substantially impact the Cubs’ lineup and reshape their infield dynamics. Let’s break down the key implications of this major move for the North Siders, both on and off the field.
What Does Bregman Mean for Third Base?
The Cubs already had a promising young player at third, but how does Bregman’s arrival change the equation?
the Cubs already had Matt Shaw slated to play third base, and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer publicly praised Shaw during the Winter meetings. however, that endorsement didn’t necessarily preclude the possibility of adding another player at that position.
Shaw, at 24 years old, showed flashes of brilliance in the second half of the season, hitting 11 home runs with a .522 slugging percentage and .839 OPS.He was also a Gold Glove finalist. Despite this, his overall performance was inconsistent, and he’s still developing at the Major League level. Fortunately for Chicago, they have Shaw under contract through 2031.
Shaw will immediatly upgrade a backup group that also includes newcomer Tyler Austin,who was signed this winter to provide depth at first base and in the outfield. Assuming Chicago doesn’t acquire another outfielder, former Top 100 prospect Kevin Alcántara (No. 4 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 for the Cubs) is projected to serve as a backup in all three outfield positions. Top Cubs prospect Moisés Ballesteros (No. 53 overall) will be the third catching option, backing up Carson Kelly and miguel Amaya.
How Does Bregman Fit Into the Lineup?
Currently, the Cubs lineup appears set: Michael Busch at first base, Hoerner at second, Swanson at shortstop, and Bregman at third. The outfield will feature Ian Happ in left,Crow-Armstrong in center,and Seiya Suzuki in right. Either Kelly or Amaya will be behind the plate, with Ballesteros primarily serving as the designated hitter.
Adding Bregman’s right-handed bat gives Counsell more versatility in constructing the lineup against right-handed pitchers, and the option to stack right-handed hitters against left-handed starters. Busch, Crow-Armstrong, and Ballesteros all hit from the left side, while Happ is a switch-hitter, and the rest of the group bats right-handed.
Busch finished the season as the Cubs’ primary leadoff hitter. If Counsell maintains that approach, bregman could easily slot in as the No. 2 hitter or bat cleanup.Chicago could alternate left-handed and right-handed hitters throughout the order, with righties batting back-to-back in only one spot. Counsell will also have the ability to utilize the designated hitter role to rotate players and keep them fresh.
