The 2026 season brings renewed focus to the financial backbone of the Chicago Cubs, where contract values quietly outline the team’s hierarchy. Behind the box scores, the payroll tells its own story about who the organization trusts most.
Veterans and cornerstone pieces such as Dansby Swanson occupy prominent spots within that structure. Some deals reflect both performance and expectation, anchoring a roster built to remain competitive over the long haul.
As salaries continue to shape roster construction across the MLB, their top earners offer a glimpse into its strategic balance of experience, stability and upside, revealing how those commitments align with their broader ambitions.
Who are the highest-paid Cubs in 2026?
The Chicago Cubs’ highest-paid players are led by Alex Bregman, whose five-year, $175 million contract places him at the top of the team’s salary structure with $32.5 million, according to Spotrac’s 2026 payroll projections.
Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson (Source: Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
His average annual value ranks among the largest commitments on the roster, reflecting the franchise’s major investment in adding a proven impact bat. Right behind him is Dansby Swanson with $25.2 million, one of the cornerstones of the lineup.
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These contracts outline the financial core of the roster. The distribution of salary reflects a blend of veteran stability and strategic acquisitions, showing where the organization has chosen to concentrate its biggest investments heading into the 2026 season.
| Player | Position | Luxury tax | Type |
| Alex Bregman | 3B | $32.5 million | Free agent |
| Dansby Swanson | SS | $25.2 million | Free agent |
| Shota Imanaga | SP | $22 million | Qualifying offer |
| Ian Happ | LF | $22 million | Extension |
| Jameson Taillon | SP | $17 million | Free agent |
| Seiya Suzuki | OF | $17 million | Free agent |
| Matthew Boyd | SP | $14.5 million | Free agent |
| Nico Hoerner | 2B | $11.6 million | Extension |
| Phil Maton | RP | $7.2 million | Free agent |
| Justin Steele | SP | $6.7 million | Arbitration 3 |
