The Chicago Cubs are preparing for Kyle Tucker’s exit as a free agent, ready to give rookie hitters Owen Caissie and Moisés Ballesteros the runway to develop at Wrigley Field. Pitching remains the club’s primary focus, but team officials have not ruled out adding to a solid group of position players.

Once again, a particular name stands out: Alex Bregman.

After a failed bid to sign Bregman last spring training, the Cubs have shown renewed interest in the All-Star third baseman, according to sources briefed on the club’s offseason planning.

While certain elements of the roster have changed — and the organization has different momentum from its first playoff appearance since 2020 — the logic that drove the Cubs to pursue Bregman then still applies now.

In making his presentation to the Ricketts family, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer identified Bregman as a great fit with this core group and a solid long-term investment. Chicago’s ownership group authorized Hoyer to make Bregman a four-year, $115 million offer that included opt-out clauses after the second and third seasons, according to sources briefed on the negotiations.

Internally, Bregman was deemed a special exception — that allocated money would not be automatically and immediately redistributed within the 2025 budget for baseball operations if he signed with another team in February.

He ultimately chose the Boston Red Sox, accepting a three-year, $120 million deal that included opt-out clauses and a significant amount of deferred money. He used that leverage to become a free agent again after posting a 3.5 WAR season (per Baseball Reference) and helping lead the Red Sox back into the playoffs.

Bregman, a Gold Glove defender who will turn 32 shortly after Opening Day next year, is the type of two-way player the Cubs have repeatedly targeted.

After helping the Houston Astros win two World Series titles, Bregman brought that experience and perspective to Fenway Park, where he enhanced his reputation as a clubhouse leader and a good influence on Boston’s promising young hitters.

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Bregman constantly challenges his teammates to be fully prepared for each at-bat and game. His impact has been felt even as he’s been hurt.

A quad injury limited Bregman to 114 games with the Red Sox, but he remained a productive hitter (18 home runs, 62 RBIs and an .821 OPS). Those numbers are similar to his body of work in the playoffs. Through 102 career postseason games, he’s produced 19 home runs, 55 RBIs and a .791 OPS.

While the Cubs were pleased with Matt Shaw’s development this year, they have multiple factors to consider beyond their incumbent third baseman.

With several contracts timed to expire along with the current collective bargaining agreement, Gold Glove shortstop Dansby Swanson is the club’s only position player on a guaranteed deal beyond the 2026 season. That’s when everyday players Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly are eligible to become free agents.

Tucker, when healthy, was a catalyst for Chicago’s offense. That first-half production might not be easily or quickly replaced as Caissie and Ballesteros learn how to make adjustments at the major-league level. Adding another accomplished hitter — Bregman and Tucker played together for years in Houston — would alleviate some pressure.

Bregman’s presence could also give Cubs manager Craig Counsell more lineup flexibility and better backup plans in case of injuries. He is a right-handed hitter with limited experience at second base. Hoerner, Chicago’s Gold Glove second baseman, can play shortstop if needed. Shaw, a first-round pick in 2023, played multiple positions at the University of Maryland and in the minor leagues.

As a rookie learning a new position, Shaw eventually turned himself into a Gold Glove finalist at third base, as well as a league-average hitter. In the long run, Bregman’s knowledge and emphasis on preparation could benefit Shaw and other young hitters such as Pete Crow-Armstrong, who grew close to Justin Turner, the veteran player the Cubs signed to a one-year deal after Bregman picked the Red Sox.

Whatever happens next — the Winter Meetings start Dec. 7 — it’s clear that the Cubs aren’t waiting around until spring training or focusing solely on the pitching side of the equation.