Just a few days after making their first major offseason move by acquiring starting pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins, the Chicago Cubs have stepped forward to break the deadlock atop the free-agent market. As it turned out, the Cabrera trade was merely Chicago’s opening act to the main event: a reported five-year, $175 million deal with third baseman Alex Bregman, an absolute haymaker of a signing that has massive implications on the North Side and promises to cause ripples well beyond the walls of Wrigley Field.

The Cubs reportedly had serious interest in Bregman a year ago during his first trip to free agency, before he agreed to the three-year, $120 million deal with the Boston Red Sox that enabled him to retest the market immediately via opt-out. Sure enough, after a drama-filled campaign that featured the shocking trade of longtime star Rafael Devers to San Francisco — essentially in deference to Bregman as the superior option at third base and the team’s new leader on and off the field — Bregman exercised his opt-out and reentered the market in search of the long-term deal he was unable to secure the winter prior.

It was no secret that Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, had no interest in settling for another shorter-term, high-average-annual-value pact. They were seeking the long-term security and firm foundation with one franchise that all premium free agents dream of. As such, it comes as no surprise that the five-year deal with Chicago reportedly contains a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs.

Bregman is now a Cub and will be for a while.

It’s an outcome that is all the more remarkable considering the Cubs’ hesitance to go all-in on Bregman last winter. Sure, there was the imminent arrival of top infield prospect Matt Shaw, who appeared primed to join Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner as a fixture in Chicago’s terrific infield. But perhaps more pertinently, the Cubs had lost credibility in recent years as the kind of club that would win any sort of bidding war for a top free agent.

Last winter, the Cubs made an uncharacteristic, ultra-aggressive maneuver by dealing away valuable future assets to acquire Kyle Tucker entering the final year of his contract, but even so, the franchise’s appetite to spend on the open market appeared to be severely limited. In turn, fans bemoaned that Chicago was unwilling to push its payroll to the heights occupied by the majority of other big-market clubs and that president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was too often playing it safe with transactions, rather than swinging big.

Such sentiments lingered into this offseason, even after the club returned to the postseason for the first time since 2020 and notched a first-round triumph before bowing out in five games to the rival Brewers in the NLDS. The Cubs’ early activity in free agency consisted strictly of adding low-cost relievers, and there seemed to be virtually no interest in retaining Tucker, prompting concerns about how the offense would perform without his valuable left-handed bat atop the order. Those questions were amplified after the Cubs dealt away one of the young hitters who projected to play a key role in Tucker’s absence — 23-year-old outfielder Owen Caissie — in the Cabrera trade.

But as spring training inched closer, a quartet of premium free-agent hitters — Bregman, Tucker, Bo Bichette and Cody Bellinger — remained unsigned, leaving room for other suitors to emerge late in the process and destroy any preconceived notions about which teams were the favorites to land them. For Chicago, that meant a golden opportunity to dispel the notion that it’s not a major player in free agency and pounce on a much-needed offensive upgrade while other teams sat back and kept their wallets closed. More specifically, it meant a mulligan for the Cubs in their courting of Bregman. 

[Get more Chicago news: Cubs team feed]

Coming into this winter, the widespread assumption was that Boston, having fully understood and felt Bregman’s positive impact on and off the field, would make the necessary commitment to retain its third baseman, particularly in the wake of exiling Devers. Other teams ,such as Arizona and Toronto, briefly surfaced as viable alternatives, with the Tigers looming in the background after being involved a year ago.

But as Bregman and Boston remained untethered — and once the Cabrera trade recentered Chicago as a main character this offseason — the Cubs emerged as an intriguing landing spot. While Shaw was Chicago’s primary option at the hot corner as a rookie and showed flashes of promise, it was not nearly the kind of breakthrough season that would preclude a follow-up pursuit of Bregman. All it would take was the kind of contract we’ve so rarely seen the Cubs willing to give out in recent years, save for the seven-year, $177 million with shortstop Dansby Swanson three years ago.

Evidently, Bregman was deemed worthy of a megadeal of that nature, and he’ll now share the left side of the infield with Swanson, another highly accomplished, all-around player renowned for his impact on winning, even beyond what he can do on the diamond. The deal also marks a remarkable pairing of two players whose ties date back more than a decade to when they were selected with the first two picks of the 2015 draft after starring in the SEC for three years.

With Bregman and Swanson, plus second baseman Nico Hoerner and first baseman Michael Busch both coming off career years, Chicago now has a strong case as the best all-around infield in the sport, especially when factoring in defense. The complicating factor — and an important dynamic to monitor in the coming weeks, if not months — is that Hoerner is slated to hit free agency next winter, whereas the other three infielders are under contract for at least four more seasons. 

That leaves Chicago with a few options for how to proceed. The Cubs could keep Hoerner and ride it out with an elite infield until he hits free agency, using Shaw as a utilityman set to replace Hoerner at second base in 2027. They could trade Hoerner now in an effort to improve another part of the roster, such as the outfield. Or — if the Cubs are still in the mood to spend — they could pursue an extension with Hoerner, which would be costly but likely worthwhile, considering how strong the unit could be for the next handful of years. In that scenario, Shaw could be used in a trade sooner rather than later. 

But however the Cubs’ infield shakes out, with Bregman in the fold, it projects to be the foundation on which this roster is built. Moreover, it’ll be fascinating to see how Bregman’s impact is felt on a roster that has a wealth of veteran leadership, headlined by Swanson and the team’s longest-tenured player in Ian Happ. Of course, the intangibles are the bonus feature of Bregman’s résumé as a ballplayer; the hefty contract is the result of his advanced approach at the plate and stellar defense, a balanced package of skills not too dissimilar from what Tucker provided, albeit right-handed and a few years older.

As with any lucrative, long-term, free-agent deal given to a player approaching his mid-30s, it’s natural to look ahead to the sizable sums guaranteed to Bregman down the road, when he might not be the player he is now, and wince a little bit. But for a franchise that should be focused on chasing championships — not fretting about its finances a half-decade from now — making the requisite offer to land a great player and certified winner in Bregman is an undeniable organizational victory for the Cubs. In a matter of days, Chicago has vaulted itself from the group of contenders toiling in winter irrelevance to the inner circle of this offseason’s winners.

And in the grand scheme of free agency, Bregman to Chicago is a refreshing twist in an offseason story that was starting to get stale. The focus now shifts to Tucker, Bichette and Bellinger — and the question of which teams will be willing to step up and make a rejuvenating splash like the Cubs just did. 

Just a few days after making their first major offseason move by acquiring starting pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins, the Chicago Cubs have stepped forward to break the deadlock atop the free-agent market. As it turned out, the Cabrera trade was merely Chicago’s opening act to the main event: a reported five-year, $175 million deal with third baseman Alex Bregman, an absolute haymaker of a signing that has massive implications on the North Side and promises to cause ripples well beyond the walls of Wrigley Field.

The Cubs reportedly had serious interest in Bregman a year ago during his first trip to free agency, before he agreed to the three-year, $120 million deal with the Boston Red Sox that enabled him to retest the market immediately via opt-out. Sure enough, after a drama-filled campaign that featured the shocking trade of longtime star Rafael Devers to San Francisco — essentially in deference to Bregman as the superior option at third base and the team’s new leader on and off the field — Bregman exercised his opt-out and reentered the market in search of the long-term deal he was unable to secure the winter prior.

It was no secret that Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, had no interest in settling for another shorter-term, high-average-annual-value pact. They were seeking the long-term security and firm foundation with one franchise that all premium free agents dream of. As such, it comes as no surprise that the five-year deal with Chicago reportedly contains a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs.

Bregman is now a Cub and will be for a while.

It’s an outcome that is all the more remarkable considering the Cubs’ hesitance to go all-in on Bregman last winter. Sure, there was the imminent arrival of top infield prospect Matt Shaw, who appeared primed to join Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner as a fixture in Chicago’s terrific infield. But perhaps more pertinently, the Cubs had lost credibility in recent years as the kind of club that would win any sort of bidding war for a top free agent.

Last winter, the Cubs made an uncharacteristic, ultra-aggressive maneuver by dealing away valuable future assets to acquire Kyle Tucker entering the final year of his contract, but even so, the franchise’s appetite to spend on the open market appeared to be severely limited. In turn, fans bemoaned that Chicago was unwilling to push its payroll to the heights occupied by the majority of other big-market clubs and that president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was too often playing it safe with transactions, rather than swinging big.

Such sentiments lingered into this offseason, even after the club returned to the postseason for the first time since 2020 and notched a first-round triumph before bowing out in five games to the rival Brewers in the NLDS. The Cubs’ early activity in free agency consisted strictly of adding low-cost relievers, and there seemed to be virtually no interest in retaining Tucker, prompting concerns about how the offense would perform without his valuable left-handed bat atop the order. Those questions were amplified after the Cubs dealt away one of the young hitters who projected to play a key role in Tucker’s absence — 23-year-old outfielder Owen Caissie — in the Cabrera trade.

But as spring training inched closer, a quartet of premium free-agent hitters — Bregman, Tucker, Bo Bichette and Cody Bellinger — remained unsigned, leaving room for other suitors to emerge late in the process and destroy any preconceived notions about which teams were the favorites to land them. For Chicago, that meant a golden opportunity to dispel the notion that it’s not a major player in free agency and pounce on a much-needed offensive upgrade while other teams sat back and kept their wallets closed. More specifically, it meant a mulligan for the Cubs in their courting of Bregman. 

[Get more Chicago news: Cubs team feed]

Coming into this winter, the widespread assumption was that Boston, having fully understood and felt Bregman’s positive impact on and off the field, would make the necessary commitment to retain its third baseman, particularly in the wake of exiling Devers. Other teams ,such as Arizona and Toronto, briefly surfaced as viable alternatives, with the Tigers looming in the background after being involved a year ago.

But as Bregman and Boston remained untethered — and once the Cabrera trade recentered Chicago as a main character this offseason — the Cubs emerged as an intriguing landing spot. While Shaw was Chicago’s primary option at the hot corner as a rookie and showed flashes of promise, it was not nearly the kind of breakthrough season that would preclude a follow-up pursuit of Bregman. All it would take was the kind of contract we’ve so rarely seen the Cubs willing to give out in recent years, save for the seven-year, $177 million with shortstop Dansby Swanson three years ago.

Evidently, Bregman was deemed worthy of a megadeal of that nature, and he’ll now share the left side of the infield with Swanson, another highly accomplished, all-around player renowned for his impact on winning, even beyond what he can do on the diamond. The deal also marks a remarkable pairing of two players whose ties date back more than a decade to when they were selected with the first two picks of the 2015 draft after starring in the SEC for three years.

With Bregman and Swanson, plus second baseman Nico Hoerner and first baseman Michael Busch both coming off career years, Chicago now has a strong case as the best all-around infield in the sport, especially when factoring in defense. The complicating factor — and an important dynamic to monitor in the coming weeks, if not months — is that Hoerner is slated to hit free agency next winter, whereas the other three infielders are under contract for at least four more seasons. 

That leaves Chicago with a few options for how to proceed. The Cubs could keep Hoerner and ride it out with an elite infield until he hits free agency, using Shaw as a utilityman set to replace Hoerner at second base in 2027. They could trade Hoerner now in an effort to improve another part of the roster, such as the outfield. Or — if the Cubs are still in the mood to spend — they could pursue an extension with Hoerner, which would be costly but likely worthwhile, considering how strong the unit could be for the next handful of years. In that scenario, Shaw could be used in a trade sooner rather than later. 

But however the Cubs’ infield shakes out, with Bregman in the fold, it projects to be the foundation on which this roster is built. Moreover, it’ll be fascinating to see how Bregman’s impact is felt on a roster that has a wealth of veteran leadership, headlined by Swanson and the team’s longest-tenured player in Ian Happ. Of course, the intangibles are the bonus feature of Bregman’s résumé as a ballplayer; the hefty contract is the result of his advanced approach at the plate and stellar defense, a balanced package of skills not too dissimilar from what Tucker provided, albeit right-handed and a few years older.

As with any lucrative, long-term, free-agent deal given to a player approaching his mid-30s, it’s natural to look ahead to the sizable sums guaranteed to Bregman down the road, when he might not be the player he is now, and wince a little bit. But for a franchise that should be focused on chasing championships — not fretting about its finances a half-decade from now — making the requisite offer to land a great player and certified winner in Bregman is an undeniable organizational victory for the Cubs. In a matter of days, Chicago has vaulted itself from the group of contenders toiling in winter irrelevance to the inner circle of this offseason’s winners.

And in the grand scheme of free agency, Bregman to Chicago is a refreshing twist in an offseason story that was starting to get stale. The focus now shifts to Tucker, Bichette and Bellinger — and the question of which teams will be willing to step up and make a rejuvenating splash like the Cubs just did. 

Jaylen Brown can expect a firmly worded letter from the NBA in his inbox over the next few days. He made very clear he is OK with that on Saturday.

In a battle between two teams near the top of their conference standings, Brown’s Boston Celtics lost 100-95 to the San Antonio Spurs. Boston finished the game with a season-low four free throws, while the Spurs received 20 attempts.

Brown had a productive but inefficient game with 27 points on 11-of-28 shooting (and zero free-throw attempts), plus 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 turnovers. After the game, he blasted the officiating crew of Curtis Blair, Nick Buchert and Jason Goldenberg while speaking to reporters:

“I’ll accept the fine at this point. I thought it was some bulls*** tonight. I think they’re a good defensive team, but they ain’t that damn good. I hope somebody can just pull up the clips, because it’s the same s*** every time we play a good team. It’s, like, they refuse to make a call, then they call touch fouls on the other end, and that’s just extremely frustrating, bro.

“We play hard. We are outplaying our expectations, we compete hard on the defensive end and they reward the other team with touch fouls and we go down there and guys are allowed to get away with — somebody please pull it up. Every time we play a good team the inconsistency is crazy. I’ll take the f***ing fine. Curtis, all them dudes, was terrible tonight. I don’t care, they can fine me whatever they want.”

While we can’t break down every call and non-call Brown has in mind, the data indicates he might have a point. As a team, the Celtics had received 4.4 fewer free-throw attempts than their opponent per game entering Saturday, the lowest mark in the NBA, while the Spurs are the second-highest at 4.7 more than their opponent per game (the Los Angeles Lakers are first at 4.8 more).

What’s more, if we are to take “a good team” to mean a team that has won at least 60% of its games this season, that free-throw margin becomes an incredible 10.7 fewer per game when including the Spurs game. In a Nov. 1 loss to the Houston Rockets, Houston received 28 more free-throw attempts than Boston.

This all comes with a disclaimer: equal free-throw attempts does not mean good officiating. Different styles of play on offense and defense lead to different foul rates. An offense that focuses on driving the ball is going to receive more free throws than one that attempts more 3-pointers. The Celtics could fall in the latter category, as they have the second-most 3-point attempts per game in the league.

Still, the team at the bottom of pile in what is essentially a ref decision is never going to be happy, and Brown insisted that the allowed physicality was hurting his team:

“I’m irate at how they officiated the game today. If we can’t get to the free throw line, and teams are allowed to be physical and bump us off our spots, it’s hard to win games like that. We shot four free throws tonight and lost the game by four. 

“Not to say that’s the whole game, the whole story. We’ve got to be better in spots, I’ve got to be better in spots, but goddamn. I’m driving to the basket, I’m physical, I don’t flop, I don’t shy away from contact. I go up strong, I’m athletic, and nothing. I had zero free throws tonight. The inconsistency is f***ing crazy. Give me the fine.”

This isn’t the first time this season he’s complained about the officiating.

The loss knocks the Celtics’ record down to 24-14, placing them in a tie with the New York Knicks for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. However they are officiated, they’ve still been one of the NBA’s biggest surprises in a Jayson Tatum-less season.

In Tatum’s absence, Brown is averaging a career-high 29.5 points per game and will almost certainly be suiting up at the NBA All-Star Game next month if healthy.

Jaylen Brown can expect a firmly worded letter from the NBA in his inbox over the next few days. He made very clear he is OK with that on Saturday.

In a battle between two teams near the top of their conference standings, Brown’s Boston Celtics lost 100-95 to the San Antonio Spurs. Boston finished the game with a season-low four free throws, while the Spurs received 20 attempts.

Brown had a productive but inefficient game with 27 points on 11-of-28 shooting (and zero free-throw attempts), plus 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 turnovers. After the game, he blasted the officiating crew of Curtis Blair, Nick Buchert and Jason Goldenberg while speaking to reporters:

“I’ll accept the fine at this point. I thought it was some bulls*** tonight. I think they’re a good defensive team, but they ain’t that damn good. I hope somebody can just pull up the clips, because it’s the same s*** every time we play a good team. It’s, like, they refuse to make a call, then they call touch fouls on the other end, and that’s just extremely frustrating, bro.

“We play hard. We are outplaying our expectations, we compete hard on the defensive end and they reward the other team with touch fouls and we go down there and guys are allowed to get away with — somebody please pull it up. Every time we play a good team the inconsistency is crazy. I’ll take the f***ing fine. Curtis, all them dudes, was terrible tonight. I don’t care, they can fine me whatever they want.”

While we can’t break down every call and non-call Brown has in mind, the data indicates he might have a point. As a team, the Celtics had received 4.4 fewer free-throw attempts than their opponent per game entering Saturday, the lowest mark in the NBA, while the Spurs are the second-highest at 4.7 more than their opponent per game (the Los Angeles Lakers are first at 4.8 more).

What’s more, if we are to take “a good team” to mean a team that has won at least 60% of its games this season, that free-throw margin becomes an incredible 10.7 fewer per game when including the Spurs game. In a Nov. 1 loss to the Houston Rockets, Houston received 28 more free-throw attempts than Boston.

This all comes with a disclaimer: equal free-throw attempts does not mean good officiating. Different styles of play on offense and defense lead to different foul rates. An offense that focuses on driving the ball is going to receive more free throws than one that attempts more 3-pointers. The Celtics could fall in the latter category, as they have the second-most 3-point attempts per game in the league.

Still, the team at the bottom of pile in what is essentially a ref decision is never going to be happy, and Brown insisted that the allowed physicality was hurting his team:

“I’m irate at how they officiated the game today. If we can’t get to the free throw line, and teams are allowed to be physical and bump us off our spots, it’s hard to win games like that. We shot four free throws tonight and lost the game by four. 

“Not to say that’s the whole game, the whole story. We’ve got to be better in spots, I’ve got to be better in spots, but goddamn. I’m driving to the basket, I’m physical, I don’t flop, I don’t shy away from contact. I go up strong, I’m athletic, and nothing. I had zero free throws tonight. The inconsistency is f***ing crazy. Give me the fine.”

This isn’t the first time this season he’s complained about the officiating.

The loss knocks the Celtics’ record down to 24-14, placing them in a tie with the New York Knicks for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. However they are officiated, they’ve still been one of the NBA’s biggest surprises in a Jayson Tatum-less season.

In Tatum’s absence, Brown is averaging a career-high 29.5 points per game and will almost certainly be suiting up at the NBA All-Star Game next month if healthy.

The Mets lost out on a potential target with third baseman Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs agreeing to a five-year, $175 million contract on Saturday night, per multiple reports.

After beginning his career with the Houston Astros, where he played for nine seasons, Bregman spent last season in Boston playing for the Red Sox, who signed him to a three-year, $120 million deal last offseason with opt outs after the first two years. But after a solid 2025 campaign, Bregman opted out to become a free agent and look for a new deal.

Now, the 31-year-old will join a Chicago team that also pursued him heavily last offseason.

Bregman played in 114 games for Boston last season after missing time with a right quad strain, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. Prior to that, the infielder had six seasons of 145 or more games played. 

In his career, Bregman has totaled 209 home runs and 725 RBI to go along with a .846 OPS, making him one of the biggest bats available this offseason.

As for the Mets, their pursuit of Bregman always seemed lukewarm at best as they seem comfortable going with Brett Baty at third base in 2026 after the youngster’s breakout season in which he slashed .254/.313/.435 with 18 homers and 50 RBI in 130 games.

Baty split time at second base and third base last year, but with Mark Vientos‘ disappointing season offensively and struggles at third base defensively, Baty appears to be the starting third baseman at the moment.

Alex Bregman has agreed to a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, taking one of MLB’s top free agents off the market. 

The deal contains a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, $70 million of the deal is deferred.

Bregman, 31, is a three-time All-Star and former Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. While he’s no longer at the peak of his Houston Astros-level powers, he remains a high-level player on both offense and defense and was one of the most coveted bats on the free-agent market. He ranked No. 2 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top free agents.

The deal is the Cubs’ second splashy move in the span of three days, having previously traded for Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. This moves lands them an impact talent at third base, despite the Cubs having a player in Matt Shaw who received Rookie of the Year votes in 2025.

The top of the Chicago lineup could now go Michael Busch, Bregman, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, an enviable collection of talent with depth behind it. The club now holds BetMGM’s top odds to win the NL Central at +150, ahead of the 2025 division champ Milwaukee Brewers at +190.

When signed, the contract will be the third-largest in Cubs history by total value, behind only Jason Heyward’s eight-year, $184 million deal and Dansby Swanson’s seven-year, $177 million deal. By average annual value, it blows both of those out of the water.

[Get more Chicago news: Cubs team feed]

Alex Bregman’s free-agent odyssey

Bregman joined the Boston Red Sox as a free agent last season after nine years with the Astros, with whom he was an anchor for two World Series-winning teams. He signed a three-year, $120 million contract with Boston that included a player option after each season. 

After an All-Star campaign in 2025, Bregman exercised that option to try again for a long-term deal on the free-agent market. 

A quad injury in part limited Bregman to 114 games in 2025. But when active, he maintained one of baseball’s most effective bats. For the season, he slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. He was selected for his third career All-Star team despite being sidelined from May 23 through July 11.

Bregman took over at third base in Boston, which ultimately prompted the team to trade longtime third baseman Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. With Bregman batting third in the lineup and his Gold Glove defense at third base, the Red Sox rallied from a 41-44 start to an 89-73 finish that earned a wild-card bid in the playoffs. The Red Sox lost 2-1 to the Yankees in the wild-card round.

Alex Bregman has agreed to a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, taking one of MLB’s top free agents off the market. 

The deal contains a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, $70 million of the deal is deferred.

Bregman, 31, is a three-time All-Star and former Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. While he’s no longer at the peak of his Houston Astros-level powers, he remains a high-level player on both offense and defense and was one of the most coveted bats on the free-agent market. He ranked No. 2 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top free agents.

The deal is the Cubs’ second splashy move in the span of three days, having previously traded for Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. This moves lands them an impact talent at third base, despite the Cubs having a player in Matt Shaw who received Rookie of the Year votes in 2025.

The top of the Chicago lineup could now go Michael Busch, Bregman, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, an enviable collection of talent with depth behind it. The club now holds BetMGM’s top odds to win the NL Central at +150, ahead of the 2025 division champ Milwaukee Brewers at +190.

When signed, the contract will be the third-largest in Cubs history by total value, behind only Jason Heyward’s eight-year, $184 million deal and Dansby Swanson’s seven-year, $177 million deal. By average annual value, it blows both of those out of the water.

[Get more Chicago news: Cubs team feed]

Alex Bregman’s free-agent odyssey

Bregman joined the Boston Red Sox as a free agent last season after nine years with the Astros, with whom he was an anchor for two World Series-winning teams. He signed a three-year, $120 million contract with Boston that included a player option after each season. 

After an All-Star campaign in 2025, Bregman exercised that option to try again for a long-term deal on the free-agent market. 

A quad injury in part limited Bregman to 114 games in 2025. But when active, he maintained one of baseball’s most effective bats. For the season, he slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. He was selected for his third career All-Star team despite being sidelined from May 23 through July 11.

Bregman took over at third base in Boston, which ultimately prompted the team to trade longtime third baseman Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. With Bregman batting third in the lineup and his Gold Glove defense at third base, the Red Sox rallied from a 41-44 start to an 89-73 finish that earned a wild-card bid in the playoffs. The Red Sox lost 2-1 to the Yankees in the wild-card round.

While the rest of us continue to deal with the cold winter months, Mets infielder Luisangel Acuña is red-hot.

Playing in the Venezuelan Winter League for the Cardenales de Lara, Acuña had a historic night on Saturday by hitting four home runs in the same game. 

The first long ball came in the second inning, a three-run shot off a right-hander which gave Acuña’s team a 6-4 lead. The next two, one off a lefty and one off a righty and both solo shots, came in the later innings with the infielder’s team up big. The final one, a two-run blast, was off a position player who was in the game because of the blowout.

Here are videos of all four home runs:

Cardenales con jonrones de Luisangel Acuña y Danry Vásquez para dar vuelta al marcador 10×4 a Bravos en La Isla. Síguenos y visita https://t.co/BB8Mt3OaVE Lo mejor del Round Robin LVBP. @PASTVDEPORTES@aldrhym@CardenalesDice#10ene#venezuela#beisbolvenezolano#lvbp RT pic.twitter.com/HgY5SFjbYq

— GRAND SLAM Internacional (@GrandSlamInter) January 11, 2026

Here’s Luisangel Acuna’s 2nd homer of Saturday Night – a solo shot. pic.twitter.com/SIrAuLQVhy

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) January 11, 2026

Luisangel Acuña has 3 home runs tonight in the Venezuelan Winter League pic.twitter.com/sNHeNc00Mb

— Joe DeMayo (@PSLToFlushing) January 11, 2026

FOUR home runs tonight for Luisangel Acuña 👏pic.twitter.com/U5hvCD0Tw5

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) January 11, 2026

Acuña finished the game 4-for-6 with seven RBI and six runs scored, reaching base in all six of his plate appearances thanks to two errors. He’s the first player in Venezuelan Professional Baseball League history to hit four dingers in a single game.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a ton of success in Venezuela this winter and will look to carry that into spring training for the Mets starting next month after an inconsistent first full season in the majors where he slashed .234/.293/.274 in 95 games.

After bursting onto the scene as a September call-up in 2024 where he hit three home runs in 39 at-bats (.966 OPS), Acuña’s power disappeared in 2025 (.567 OPS) and he was more valuable with his defensive versatility and speed on the bases (16 steals on 17 attempts). 

However, if he’s ever able to tap into his raw power that he displayed on Saturday night and briefly in 2024 on a more consistent basis in the majors (like his older brother Ronald Acuña Jr.), it would open up his game to another level.