On December 4, The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma reported, citing sources briefed on the team’s offseason planning, that the Cubs have renewed interest in All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.
With Chicago being one team that appears keen on Bregman, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi shared the latest he’s hearing on the free-agent hitter who spent last season with the Boston Red Sox.
“If [Bregman is] able to keep the AAV or around the AAV that he had this past year in Boston and then multiply it over the longer-term deal that he wants, I think that’s exactly what Bregman is looking for,” Morosi said during a December 15 appearance on MLB Network.
“From what sources around the industry are saying, he probably still has the best chance to get that type of a deal in Boston. The question, of course, remains who else is going to be in there to potentially bid up the price? …These signs continue to point that Bregman is likely having his best fit with the Red Sox.
“We know the Tigers were involved last winter, as were the Cubs, but the situation is a bit different now with the Cubs being at least somewhat comfortable with Matt Shaw, unless they were to move Shaw to second and then trade Nico Hoerner—a possibility.
“The Tigers’ ability to spend some somewhat diminished by the fact that Gleyber Torres has accepted the qualifying offer. So you start to look around the different options. The Boston Red Sox, to me, still the clearest and best option of all for Alex Bregman.”
Cubs’ Previous History With Alex Bregman
Chicago previously made a push for Bregman during spring training but came up short. According to the Mooney and Sharma report, the Cubs’ ownership group approved Jed Hoyer to present a four-year, $115 million offer that included opt-out clauses after the second and third seasons.
Bregman ultimately signed with the Red Sox, agreeing to a three-year, $120 million contract. That deal also included opt-out provisions and a significant amount of deferred money.
Bregman played in just 114 games for Boston last season due to a quad injury, yet his offensive numbers stayed consistent. He ended the season with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, and an .821 OPS, figures that align closely with his postseason performance. In 102 career playoff games, Bregman has recorded 19 home runs, 55 RBIs, and a .791 OPS.
Alex Bregman Could Spell Bad News for Cubs’ Nico Hoerner
After a report that the Cubs are revisiting Bregman, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden believes Chicago could trade Hoerner, as Morosi also stated in his update.
“If they can sign Alex Bregman to play third base, they could move Matt Shaw to second base,” Bowden said on the December 12 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.” “Trade Nico Hoerner for a starting pitcher or an impact reliever. So that’s kind of what their thinking is right now.”
