Report: Cubs still in the mix for Alex Bregman |
Talk about an exciting way to begin the weekend.
Sure, none of this is official, and most of this is simply the rumor mill ramping up at an all-time high, but the Cubs have been linked to several new and promising free-agent targets. The most recent one is a name that has been floated around for quite a while, but given the team's financial status and knowing who his agent is, those rumors went to the wayside. In case you missed it, Jon Heyman reported that the Cubs are not only interested in Alex Bregman, but their interests have become a tad more as they have officially engaged in Bregman conversations. While that all sounds positive, I urge the fans on the side of caution that acquiring Bregman still seems unlikley. Like the Astros, this team operates on a budget that wants to stay below 241 million dollars. Given the limited payroll flexibility before reaching that mark, he is an unlikely target. You also have the Scott Boras factor to consider, as he will continue to operate how he does to get his client the most money possible. Adding Bregman would fall into the lines of the Third Base help that Jed Hoyer was talking about while also providing the Cubs with a massive bat in the middle of their lineup that they have been lacking. You also have the situation where Bregman would go third. That alone would give the Cubs more of a chance to trade Nico Hoerner and slide Matt Shaw to second if that is the route they want to go. Again, all good news to help this team win, but it is also doubtful when you look at how things stack up for this team. The Cubs and the Houston Astros are interested, as those teams have suddenly become the most active teams in the Bregman discussions. The Red Sox and the Tigers have remained in the mix, as Detroit still seems like the odds-on favorite to land him. If you don't want to believe a post that comes directly from X, why not look at several other reports that confirm the same thing? Beat reporters from Houston (Chandler Rome), Chicago (Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney), and the national scene (Ken Rosenthal) have all said the same thing, as the Cubs have engaged with Bregman on contract discussions. Rumors or not, which most people hate to listen to, all of those sources are very credible, so having all of them say the same thing makes these rumors far more plausible. Even with those reports surfacing, it remains unclear how serious those discussions have gotten, but at the very least, it shows some interest from both parties. Take this quote from The Athletic, as it breaks down this situation perfectly. “While the Cubs are trying to be opportunistic and get creative on a Bregman deal, sources indicated their current budget for baseball operations does not leave much room for the All-Star third baseman. Like the Astros, the Cubs have an ownership group that is reluctant to surpass the $241 million luxury-tax threshold.” The kicker, the "budget" threshold, is where the owner doesn't want to pass a luxury tax tier. This is the only league with no salary cap, so spending whatever means necessary to improve your team is highly encouraged even if you pass the Luxury Tax Tier. The Cubs never used to have an issue doing that, but for whatever reason, Tom Ricketts has chosen to stay below the Tax for the past five seasons. Even with the Cubs' so-called limited flexibility, these reports don't get leaked unless there have been general discussions. The Cubs have some interest, even if it's on their terms. If the Cubs can find a way to make this work on a short-term one—or two-year deal for 25-30 million a season, they would be foolish not to take it, as the deal benefits both the Cubs and the player. However, Bregman will be 31 this season and is looking to cash in for the first time on a 5-7 year deal. In his defense, he has earned that type of contract based on his production, but the market is what the market is, and he hasn't had a strong market. That alone is troublesome for him as we inch closer to the regular season. The longer he goes without a long-term deal, the more likely he will be forced to sign a short-term contract. That alone could play into the Cubs' hands, as their patient approach to the more prominent names of free agency could pay off if they manage to get this done.
