{"id":138632,"date":"2026-01-12T15:01:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T15:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138632"},"modified":"2026-01-12T15:01:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T15:01:51","slug":"cubs-owner-tom-ricketts-shifts-stance-in-pursuit-of-alex-bregman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138632","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts Shifts Stance in Pursuit of Alex Bregman"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

IMAGE: Chicago Cubs president Jed Hoyer talks to the press before a game against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. \/ David Banks \/ Imagn Images<\/div>\n

The Chicago Cubs have long been known for taking a hardline stance when it comes to free-agent contract structures-no early opt-outs, no deferred money. That approach, while once standard, has fallen out of step with the direction the market has taken in recent years.<\/p>\n

Players and agents today value flexibility and long-term financial planning, and deferrals have become a key part of that conversation. For a while, it felt like the Cubs were playing catch-up.<\/p>\n

But that changed in a big way with the signing of Alex Bregman.<\/p>\n

In what marks a major shift in organizational philosophy, the Cubs inked Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal-with a reported $70 million of that total deferred. That\u2019s more than 40 percent of the contract pushed into future payments, and it\u2019s a clear signal that the front office, with ownership\u2019s blessing, is finally willing to play ball with the modern financial strategies teams across the league have embraced.<\/p>\n

\"Cubs<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be honest: this isn\u2019t just about being more player-friendly. There\u2019s a strong Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) angle here.<\/p>\n

Without the deferrals, a straight $35 million average annual value (AAV) would\u2019ve put the Cubs right at the doorstep of the first CBT threshold, which sits at $244 million. And Chicago, like many teams, likes to leave itself a little breathing room-typically $5-10 million-for in-season additions.<\/p>\n

By deferring a significant chunk of Bregman\u2019s salary, the Cubs give themselves that cushion, keeping their options open for July while still landing a marquee name.<\/p>\n

Right now, the Cubs rank eighth in MLB payroll and sixth in the National League, according to Spotrac. That\u2019s a notable jump, and it reflects just how aggressive this offseason has been for Jed Hoyer and his front office.<\/p>\n

First came the complete bullpen overhaul. Then came the trade for Edward Cabrera, a young, controllable arm with upside.<\/p>\n

And now, the Bregman deal-arguably the biggest free-agent splash the team has made in years.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s especially striking is how different this pursuit looked compared to last winter. A year ago, the Cubs made a run at Bregman but came up short.<\/p>\n

This time, they didn\u2019t just stay in the race-they won it. Not only did they outbid the presumed frontrunner, the Boston Red Sox, but they did so with a contract that reflected real urgency and intent.<\/p>\n

Chicago\u2019s offer of $175 million over five years topped Boston\u2019s reported $160 million, and that extra push made all the difference.<\/p>\n

\"Cubs<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a move that feels long overdue. Bregman brings elite defense at third base, postseason experience, and a bat that still profiles as one of the best at his position when healthy.<\/p>\n

He fits the Cubs\u2019 timeline, their needs, and their clubhouse culture. And now, with Bregman in the fold, the Cabrera trade bolstering the rotation, and a revamped bullpen, the Cubs are positioned to make a serious run in 2026.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s still work to do. Rumors continue to swirl about potential cost-cutting moves-Nico Hoerner\u2019s name has come up-but for now, the Cubs have made a statement.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re not just spending. They\u2019re adapting.<\/p>\n

And in today\u2019s MLB landscape, that might be the biggest win of all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IMAGE: Chicago Cubs president Jed Hoyer talks to the press before a game against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. \/ David Banks \/ Imagn Images… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":138636,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nCubs Owner Tom Ricketts Shifts Stance in Pursuit of Alex Bregman - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138632\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts Shifts Stance in Pursuit of Alex Bregman - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"IMAGE: Chicago Cubs president Jed Hoyer talks to the press before a game against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. \/ David Banks \/ Imagn Images...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138632\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-12T15:01:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rinrin-32-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"XuanTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"XuanTan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138632\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138632\",\"name\":\"Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts Shifts Stance in Pursuit of Alex Bregman - 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