The Chicago Cubs are definitely in the running for All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.
Multiple insiders have already confirmed that the Cubs have shown interest in Bregman this offseason, and Robert Murray of FanSided also said the front office had a Zoom meeting with the veteran a few weeks ago.
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That means the Cubs could land Bregman this winter. The team appears to be in the market to upgrade the third baseman position, and the 31-year-old would essentially replace Kyle Tucker in Chicago’s lineup.
However, Bregman could get more money this offseason than previously anticipated.
With Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber both signing contracts for around $30 million per season, Bregman could be the next big-time star to sign for more than his market value. That’s at least what MLB insider Kiley McDaniel of ESPN believes.
McDaniel originally had Bregman signing for five years, $160 million. McDaniel has now updated the third baseman’s projected contract for five years, $170 million. That would give him an annual average value (AAV) of $34 million per season.
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If that is indeed the contract that Bregman is seeking in free agency, it’s hard to believe the Cubs will be one of those teams to offer him that type of money.
The front office is always hesitant to give out big contracts and might not want to commit five years to the soon-to-be 32-year-old infielder. Don’t forget, the Cubs only offered Bregman a four-year, $115 million deal last offseason.
The odds of signing Bregman, though, could lean more in Chicago’s favor after what Jared Carrabis has been hearing about the Red Sox’s pursuit of the third baseman.
“I don’t feel super great about Bregman coming back, but these things are always subject to change,” Carrabis wrote on X. “These situations are fluid. But, yeah. Doesn’t sound promising at the moment.”
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Carrabis has been very involved with the Red Sox over a large part of the last decade, and if what he’s hearing is true, then the Cubs could move into the driver’s seat for Bregman. It will all come down to whether Chicago’s front office wants to commit that many years to the veteran.
Either way, it appears the Cubs are real suitors for Bregman. They have held a Zoom meeting with him and were interested in him last offseason as well. With the Red Sox potentially more focused on a trade for Ketel Marte, the North Siders could swoop in and steal him away from Boston.
