Cubs reportedly love Alex Bregman, contract remains biggest roadblock

With each passing day, it's becoming clear that the Chicago Cubs do have a legitimate interest in free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

Once thought to be a leverage play to get a better offer from the Detroit Tigers, there now appears to be geniune interest from the Cubs in the former Astros' third baseman. While the interest from the Cubs is valid, the biggest hurdle that would need to be cleared is Bregman's asking price.

Having previously turned down a five-year offer from the Astros last month worth north of $150MM, Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, remain steadfast in maximizing the third baseman's value. As long as that is the case, it's difficult to point to the Cubs being the victor in the sweepstakes.

The latest was from Bruce Levine on Saturday, who confirmed the Cubs would love to have Bregman but prefer the deal to be no more than three years.

While the natural reaction from Cubs fans would be that the Cubs are once again being cheap, there are some legitimate red flags when it comes to how Bregman projects over the long term. Combining that fear with the fact that the Cubs have all but said Matt Shaw is ready for the Major Leagues, there shouldn't be much of an inclination for the team to be interested in Bregman on a long-term contract.

That said, Bregman has been a 4-WAR player in each of the last three seasons, and in a year where the Cubs are pushing their chips to the middle of the table, adding him and creating a soft landing for Shaw as a utility player does check out with Jed Hoyer's roster construction ideologies.

The Cubs want Alex Bregman but the financials may not be there.

Bregman's known suitors appear to be the Cubs, Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, and Detroit Tigers. Like the Cubs, the Red Sox are only believed to be interested in Bregman on a short-term contract.

The Astros provide an interesting wrinkle in relation to the Cubs. The Cubs and Astros remain hopeful that Ryan Pressly approves a trade to Chicago. In the deal, the Cubs would likely absorb most of the $14.5MM owed to Pressly in 2025. With that money off the books, the Astros could entertain a reunion with Bregman.

The Tigers have always been considered the favorite for Bregman, but recent reports suggest their talks have reached an impasse. It's possible the renewed interest from the Cubs and Astros is being used as an elaborate leverage play to get the Tigers to push a deal across the finish line.