Cubs Rumors: National insider offers surprising Alex Bregman update

Alex Bregman remains at the forefront of not only Chicago Cubs rumors but rumors across Major League Baseball.

Bregman is the top remaining free agent available, drawing interest from the Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, and Toronto Blue Jays. Depending on what fanbase you follow, that respective team is the favorite to sign Bregman.

Two things seem pretty clear regarding Bregman for the Cubs: the Cubs' front office would love to add Bregman, but their current payroll situation prevents them from being the clear frontrunner. Bregman is seeking a long-term deal of at least six years with an asking price some believe to be around $180MM. That speaks to why Bregman hasn't accepted the six-year, $156MM offer he has on the table from the Astros.

It's not earth-shattering news that the Cubs aren't willing to go to those levels to land Bregman. Reports last week suggested that the Cubs do have a four-year offer on the table that contains multiple player options.

Conflicting reports emerge regarding Cubs' pursuit of Alex Bregman.

One national insider is pushing back against that report. Bob Nightengale, who was spotted at Cubs' Spring Training on Sunday, had this to say about the team's pursuit of Bregman:

"Yet, while the Cubs continue to talk to agent Scott Boras about Bregman, there’s no indication that the Cubs would be willing to offer more than a three-year contract. There’s also no sign that Bregman would dramatically lower his asking price when he already has at least one six-year offer on the table," Nightengale added.

On one hand, we have a respected authority within the Cubs' universe reporting that the Cubs have a four-year offer on the table for Bregman. On the other hand, we have a national writer, one who was previously chastised by Jed Hoyer, saying he has no indication of the Cubs being willing to offer more than three years. It's not exactly Jeff Passan's reporting against Ken Rosenthal's but it's the rumor that will fuel the Cubs' Spring Training storyline until there is closure on the matter.