{"id":424975,"date":"2025-12-04T21:40:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T21:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/424975\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T21:40:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T21:40:14","slug":"what-were-hearing-about-the-cubs-renewing-interest-in-alex-bregman-after-missing-out-last-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/424975\/","title":{"rendered":"What we\u2019re hearing about the Cubs: Renewing interest in Alex Bregman after missing out last spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs are preparing for Kyle Tucker\u2019s exit as a free agent, ready to give rookie hitters Owen Caissie and Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros the runway to develop at Wrigley Field. Pitching remains the club\u2019s primary focus, but team officials have not ruled out the idea of adding to a solid group of position players.<\/p>\n

Once again, a particular name stands out under consideration: Alex Bregman.<\/p>\n

After a failed bid to sign Bregman during spring training, the Cubs have shown renewed interest in the All-Star third baseman, according to sources briefed on the club\u2019s offseason planning.<\/p>\n

While certain elements of the roster have changed \u2014 and the organization has different momentum from its first playoff appearance since 2020 \u2014 the logic that drove the Cubs to pursue Bregman then still applies now.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Chicago\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Internally, Bregman was deemed a special exception<\/a> \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

Bregman chose the Boston Red Sox, accepting a three-year, $120 million structure 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

After helping the Houston Astros win two World Series titles, Bregman brought all of that experience and perspective to Fenway Park, where he enhanced his reputation as a clubhouse leader and a good influence on Boston\u2019s promising young hitters.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s produced 19 home runs, 55 RBIs and a .791 OPS.<\/p>\n

While the Cubs were pleased with Matt Shaw\u2019s development this year, they have multiple factors to consider beyond their incumbent third baseman.<\/p>\n

With several contracts timed to expire along with the current collective bargaining agreement, Gold Glove shortstop Dansby Swanson is the club\u2019s only position player on a guaranteed deal beyond the 2026 season. That\u2019s when everyday players Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly are eligible to become free agents.<\/p>\n

Tucker, when healthy, was a catalyst for Chicago\u2019s 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 \u2014 Bregman and Tucker played together for years in Houston \u2014 would alleviate some pressure.<\/p>\n

Bregman\u2019s presence could also give Cubs manager Craig Counsell some more lineup flexibility and better backup plans in case of injuries. Bregman, a right-handed hitter, has limited experience at second base. Hoerner, Chicago\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Whatever happens next \u2014 the Winter Meetings start Dec. 7 \u2014 it\u2019s clear that the Cubs aren\u2019t waiting around until spring training or focusing solely on the pitching side of the equation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Chicago Cubs are preparing for Kyle Tucker\u2019s exit as a free agent, ready to give rookie hitters…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":424976,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[1271,1266,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-424975","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-chicago-cubs","9":"tag-mlb","10":"tag-sports","11":"tag-united-states","12":"tag-unitedstates","13":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115663472139229362","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=424975"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424975\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/424976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=424975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=424975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=424975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}