Red Sox rumor might unexpectedly boost Cubs’ Alex Bregman pursuit

The Chicago Cubs seem to have their sights set higher than we've seen during Jed Hoyer's tenure as president of baseball operations, with reports connecting them to Tatsuya Imai, Robert Suarez and Alex Bregman, among others, as the Winter Meetings get underway in Orlando.

The Bregman rumors seem like a rerun of what we heard last winter, when the Cubs eventually bowed out as the two-time World Series champion joined the Boston Red Sox on a three-year, $120 pact that included opt-out provisions. Those opt-outs have the 31-year-old infielder back on the open market, no longer tied to draft pick compensation - and once again in Chicago's crosshairs.

Cubs could swoop in if Boston pivots to Bo Bichette over Alex Bregman

A reunion with Bregman continues to be a priority for Craig Breslow and Boston, but a new report from The Athletic (subscription required) says that there's a contingent within the Red Sox front office that views Bo Bichette as an 'intriguing alternative'.

They're comparable as players, at least offensively speaking, and Bichette has the advantage of being more than three years younger than Bregman. If Breslow shifts his focus to Bichette, that could open the door for a team like the Cubs to ramp up their pursuit of Bregman, which would have a trickle-down effect on the roster.

Bregman could slot in at third, pushing Matt Shaw into a utility role that would immediately boost a bench that was a major weakness for Chicago in 2025. He's also known as one of the best veteran mentors in all of Major League Baseball, another box Hoyer and the Cubs need to check as they move on from Justin Turner. Turner was beloved in the clubhouse and played a major role helping the team's young players work through struggles, but it would be nice to get some legitimate production along with that presence.

The team's primary focus remains pitching, but the Bregman rumors continue to swirl. If Boston shifts its focus to Bichette, all bets are off - and that long-speculated Bregman signing may finally come to fruition on the North Side.