Cubs Rumors: Alex Bregman falling to Jed Hoyer's price range does not seem likely

We've reached the point of the offseason where prominent names remain on the free-agent market, begging the question if the Chicago Cubs would circle back to a player who they may have previously ruled out as an addition.

It's not a linear scenario for the Cubs, as we touched on when talking about Pete Alonso remaining a free agent. The Cubs are seemingly set at each of their starting positions, which is why the idea of the Cubs making a move for someone like Alonso seems unlikely.

If there were, in theory, a position where the Cubs could add a starter, it would be third base. Matt Shaw is expected to be the Cubs' Opening Day, and before we go further, giving a top prospect a chance to have an immediate impact is something the Cubs should trend toward doing more often in coming seasons. There is some risk involved, however, and that is why some insiders have floated the Cubs being a rumored suitor for former Houston Astros' third baseman Alex Bregman.

Where Levine's argument immediately loses logic is that Bregman's situation is not like the situation Cody Bellinger was in when he signed with the Cubs prior to the 2023 season.

No, Alex Bregman does not make sense for the Cubs.

Bellinger was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing the Cubs to sneak in with a one-year, prove-it deal for the former MVP. In Bregman's case, he is a traditional free agent who received a qualifying offer from the Astros at the start of the offseason. Meaning, unlike Bellinger, the risk for the Cubs extends beyond money as the Cubs would lose additional draft picks as well as money from their international free-agent pool if they were to sign Bregman.

Given that reality, there isn't a path where the Cubs would entertain the idea of signing Bregman. Shaw is going to be the Opening Day third baseman for the Cubs with the chance that the Cubs bring in a veteran such as Yoan Moncada to be a safeguard for the rookie.