Cubs, Astros waiting for Ryan Pressly approval while linked in latest Alex Bregman rumor

The offseasons of the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros have been intertwined as the two teams came together last month on a trade that sent Kyle Tucker to the Cubs and may have another swap in the works.

Reports first emerged on Thursday at the Cubs and Astros were talking about a deal involving Houston's relief pitcher Ryan Pressly. While initial reporting suggested that a trade was close, it's currently believed that the teams are waiting for Pressly to approve the deal. Pressly, who has one year remaining on his contract, also carries a full no-trade clause.

The latest from the contingency of Astros and Cubs beat reporters for The Athletic is Pressly is debating a "fresh start" against staying in Houston to the benefit of his family. Also, in the same report, it's confirmed that the Astros and Cubs have interest in free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

Cubs staying involved in the Alex Bregman sweepstakes.

Bregman has loosely been connected to the Cubs but the indication leaving the Cubs convention last week was that the All-Star third baseman wasn't much of a possibility for the North Siders. That is why it is interesting to see the change of tune from Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney:

"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 go over the $241 million luxury-tax threshold," reported in The Athletic.

The takeaway from that phrasing would suggest that interest from the Cubs is stemming from Jed Hoyer's front office but the spending ideologies of Tom Ricketts are what is preventing the team from a full pursuit. There likely is a world where Hoyer wants to add Bregman as his third baseman, but given the costs of such a move after the Cubs exceeded the luxury tax last offseason--draft picks and international spending reductions--it may not be aligned with the payroll budget established by Ricketts' preferences.

Anytime Mooney and Sharma mention a specific player of interest to the Cubs, it's something that should carry more weight than the standard rumor but in this case, the math isn't mathing.