Craig Counsell just added fuel to the Alex Bregman fire at the Winter Meetings

For the second straight offseason, the Chicago Cubs are entrenched in Alex Bregman's free agency. The consensus is that the Boston Red Sox are the leaders in the clubhouse for Bregman, but in a scenario where they add another impact bat before bringing him back, the Cubs likely would be ready to amp up their efforts to sign the All-Star third baseman.

Jed Hoyer playing coy with the media or not, there does seem to be an indication that the Cubs are in love with Bregman. The North Siders were among the teams that Bregman had a Zoom meeting with before the Winter Meetings, and internal sources confirmed to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney (subscription required) that Bregman is on their radar.

In what could be perceived as a slight tip of the hand from Craig Counsell, the Cubs manager didn't shy away from talking about the veteran's fit with the Cubs when asked during an interview with MLB Network. Counsell referred to Bregman as a clear fit with the players the Cubs already have on their roster--great work ethic, constantly analyzing the game, leader, etc.

Craig Counsell doesn't shy away from talking about Alex Bregman, who is a clear fit for the Cubs roster.

Jed Hoyer has made a habit of avoiding talking about specific free agents, so with Counsell not only shying away from the question but also mentioning Bregman directly in discussing his fit with the roster, it's clear that some conversations have already been had.

On one hand, there's an obvious element to all of this. Counsell has a rising influence on the moves of the front office, and with the interest last offseason and renewed interest this winter, there have almost certainly been discussions about the plan for the roster if Bregman were to sign. Doesn't mean that the Cubs are getting ready to overtake the Red Sox as the favorites, but it is clear that the organization still thinks highly of his potential arrival.

Along the lines of the Red Sox, as the Winter Meetings head into their final day, keep an eye on their interest in Ketel Marte. If the Red Sox trade for Marte, in theory, that should open a clear path to Bregman for the Cubs.