Ryan Pressly makes case for Chicago Cubs to follow Houston Astros blueprint

Championship Series - Houston Astros v New York Yankees - Game Four
Championship Series - Houston Astros v New York Yankees - Game Four | Jamie Squire/GettyImages

After their respective rebuilds often mirrored one another, the Houston Astros seemingly lapped the Chicago Cubs in the years since 2016 as the Astros have been the definition of sustained success over the last 10 years.

This offseason, the Cubs have taken a page out of the Astros' playbook. The two biggest moves the Cubs made this offseason were separate trades with the Astros. The first trade was the move that saw the Cubs acquire Kyle Tucker in exchange for Hayden Wesneski, Isaac Paredes, and Cam Smith. The Cubs and Astros followed up on their earlier deal with another trade this past week that saw Ryan Pressly follow Tucker to the North Side.

The Cubs may not be done in trying to replicate the Astros' success.

In recent weeks, the Cubs have been linked to free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. While the Cubs would love to add Bregman to their starting lineup, it seems that the Pressly trade has pushed the veteran closer to returning to the Astros than signing with the Cubs. With Bregman and Scott Boras remaining hopeful of a long-term commitment, the Astros., already with one five-year offer on the table, may be back in the lead position.

If the Cubs add Bregman, they will do so on a no more than three-year deal that is likely similar to the one Cody Bellinger signed last offseason. Pressly, fresh off his trade with the Cubs, is doing his part to recruit Bregman to Chicago.

Cubs can offer Alex Bregman familiarity in reunion with Ryan Pressly and Kyler Tucker.

If talks between the Astros and Bregman fall through, and the Tigers don't re-enter the conversation, the Cubs may be in the driver's seat. While that would mean Bregman making a concession and taking a short-term deal that features player options, it would also mean the All-Star third baseman joining his former teammates in Tucker and Pressly.

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