The Cubs are again showing interest in Alex Bregman, report Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of The New York Post writes that the Tigers are back in the mix, along with the incumbent Red Sox.
Those three teams were the final suitors for Bregman last offseason. Detroit reportedly put forth a six-year, $171.5MM offer — albeit with deferred money that would have reduced the net present value — with an opt-out after the second season. The Cubs offered a four-year contract which various reports put at either $115MM or $120MM that included opt-out chances after the second and third season.
Bregman opted for the shortest deal to get back to the market, accepting a three-year guarantee from Boston with outs after the first two years. He made $40MM (half of it deferred) and triggered the opt-out after one season with the Sox. His market won’t be impacted by the qualifying offer this time around. He’ll turn 32 just after Opening Day and could take aim at another six-year deal.
Detroit’s continued interest is expected. They’re still managed by A.J. Hinch, his longtime skipper with the Astros. Zach McKinstry was a surprise All-Star this year, but his numbers tanked in the second half. The Tigers would be better off with him in a utility role, perhaps taking the majority of the shortstop reps from Javier Báez until top prospect Kevin McGonigle arrives. They could use Colt Keith as a left-handed complement to Spencer Torkelson and Gleyber Torres on the right side of the infield, while mixing him in at designated hitter when Kerry Carpenter plays right field.
The fit is a little more difficult on the Cubs, especially if Bregman commands a long-term deal. That’d squeeze out former first-round pick Matt Shaw, who is coming off a reasonably impressive rookie season. Shaw’s overall .226/.295/.394 line is subpar, but he settled in after struggling in his initial looks at big league pitching. Shaw got out to a horrible start but was a league average hitter after being recalled from Triple-A in the middle of May. That includes a .258/.317/.522 showing in the second half, although he slumped a bit in the final month after a huge August.
Shaw impressed defensively, especially later in the season. The Cubs could justify giving him the third base job and hoping for continued improvements at the plate. It wasn’t such an overwhelming debut that it takes them completely out of the running on Bregman, however. Shaw ranked in the bottom 10 percent of qualified hitters in average exit velocity and hard contact rate. He doesn’t have huge bat speed, so there’s no guarantee he’ll be the 20-25 homer threat that Bregman has been over his career.
It still seems likely the Cubs will prioritize adding a mid-rotation or better starter. They reportedly made a run at Dylan Cease and are involved in the bidding for NPB pitcher Tatsuya Imai. A pursuit of Framber Valdez or Ranger Suárez would be logical. RosterResource calculates their luxury tax number around $197MM, which puts them $35MM shy of this past season’s mark. They’re nearly $50MM below the base tax threshold.
Signing Bregman and a #2 starter would probably put them into tax territory, and it’s not clear if ownership would approve that kind of spending. They could address the rotation on the trade market, though, and Shaw would be a quality piece to dangle in talks if they upgrade at third base. They could also use him off the bench in a utility role with the long-term plan of moving him to second base once Nico Hoerner reaches free agency next offseason.
Bregman’s is great for Minute Maid (Daikin)or Fenway. His numbers will suffer outside of those two locations
Yep- he’s not worth 30m$ per either-the Sox need to move on
Keep dreaming cubs fans. Hoyer will not fork the money up.
Don’t want him. Don’t need him.
Good luck with no reliable sluggers in the Cubs lineup next season.
Is Bregman a “reliable slugger”?
Busch and Suzuki are better sluggers than Bregman
yup
I don’t know that he is a reliable slugger- but if the cubs sign Bregman and move Shaw to a utility role I feel like the line up looks the best. Basically subtracting Tucker/Shaw and adding Ballesteros/Bregman. I think that may be a wash or slightly net positive.
And Shaw can see some reps at 2B in anticipation that Nico won’t be there in 2027.
Logjammer D’Baggagecling
Don’t want him. Don’t need him.
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I don’t understand why this is not the opinion of 100% of the fans. I like Bregman well enough, but unless you are the LAD, you don’t try to upgrade from someone like Shaw and pay $30M to do so. Spend $15M on an SP and $15M on a closer, and you’ll be better off.
Cubs’ fans actually want to be disappointed at this point.
I’m dreaming that Jed goes nowhere near this.
I like it… maybe the Red Sox would be interested in a Bohm and Strahm package for Duran if Bregman signs elsewhere.
Crochet is worth more. But Bohm+Strahm is worth more than Duran.
Is the Hall Of Fame career Duran is having in the room with us?
Not even remotely close,
Duran didn’t impress me, Bohm and a obscure minor league prospect should get it done.
Boston is selling him like a batting champ
Sure that works if you add painter..bohm and strahm might as well be dfa candidates when comparing them to duran he was a 7 war player in 2023 and got mvp votes
what year did Duran win MVP again?
Did anyone say he won an mvp award?
phillyballers
what year did Duran win MVP again?
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Are you purposely trying to look foolish? It’s fine to make a bad trade proposal, but it’s time to give it up.
I’d like to see the Tigers wind up with Bregman for a season or two. I’d imagine it’ll take a contract similar to what Boston gave him last season. I think he’s a good bridge to the future, and the Tigers badly need a legit everyday 3B.
He’s not gonna take another opt out deal, you could hope he takes a good deal that you could trade away in three or four years
Boston did a deal to pay him $120M over 3 years. Guy walked away from 2 at $80M… at age 32… anyone who would give him a 3 or 4 year deal at better than $40M a year is crazy. I’ll bet he winds up on a 2-year, $90M deal. That’s a contract I think Detroit (Chris Ilitch) would be willing to make.
Luke- I don’t believe so. I think he will go after the most guaranteed money. These guys want to get paid 30+m in their after 35 years. Which once they reach that age nobody wants to give them close to that as a free agent.
I think he would take say 6 at 180. So if your are willing to give him 2/90 then offering him 4/90 seems like a better deal for the tigers.
I don’t see him getting say 8/220 or something but that’s not impossible I suppose. Manny is still owed more than that at a similar age. Though that’s not a good thing.
100%. Bregman got hurt, and he’s not getting cute this time to pass up the biggest guarantee at his age. He may not even push for opt out if the club calls a weak bluff.
I’d like to see that too, but the Tiger fans say they don’t want or need him. Maybe, they’ll change their tune if they get him and see how good he is.
Tigers need something but a 32-year-old signing a multi-year contract worries me that we’re going to get anchored down again with a horrible, dead-money contract. Miggy’s extension was a disaster – as most predicted – and Javy’s contract has been an albatross, too. The Mets and Dodgers can swallow those a lot easier than Detroit can.
Hope they do something. McKinstry is not the answer at 3B.
Zach was predictably exposed with too many ABs. His ceiling is role player. AJ loves him, but it may be a good time to package him in a trade. Trei Cruz can probably provide as much for a lot less.
Cubs don’t need Bregman. They have Matt Shaw. I would take Shaw over Bregman all day.
I. With you, Shaw is alot cheaper and will be a valuable guy
“Shaw ranked in the bottom 10 percent of qualified hitters in average exit velocity and hard contact rate. ” Yikes. That’s who you want as your third baseman over Alex Bregman?
He’s a rookie. The hard hit rate will improve before long. So yes, absolutely I want Shaw over Alex Bregman. I know it’s been 8 years, I just can’t take him seriously after his bs apology. It’s a petty reason but I don’t care. Plus he has a very punchable face.
I can pay Bregman $1.73 to run into a wall, hard. That’s all the change I could find without moving because he’s not worth that effort.
Super punchable face, I’ve been saying this for years!!!
There’s a handful of players that do. Although I like Jose Ramirez he never smiles and reminds me of Glenallen Hill. Super nice guy but he looks like he’s always mean mugging. It would work great for a poker face.
100% it is.
The kid is a rookie, just watch Jr will get better and very cheap, take all the extra money for pitching
SS and CF will be McGonigle and Clark by May and August if plans hold. Bregman steadies the lineup and D, but he will not out up numbers in CoPa like his first 2 stops.
Kinda feels like an overpay and that they should at least see if Tucker has any interest in Detroit first, which they may have.
I just hope the Cubs don’t overpay for Tucker, I rather have P A
@Lufbro: The Cubs overpaying for Tucker is about the last thing we need to be worried about. He’s gone for sure.
LF and RF seem well covered in Detroit. If an OF is acquired, it would likely be a CF. Plus, they have lots of LH bats already. Solid player, but I don’t see how Tucker would be a priority within their budget.
Any chance they’re talking to Bichette (sp) about moving to 3B?
I’d prefer Bo over Bregman.
Tigers just trying to save face by acting interested. They’ll be shopping at the thrift store again.
This 100%.
Tigers aren’t acting interested. Tigers never tell anybody anything about what they’re thinking. This is Boras acting like the Tigers are interested. Might be true, but he’s not telling you that so the Tigers save face. He’s telling you that to remind Boston that Bregman’s got suitors.
I mean I’m sure Bregman does have suitors and a good marketing guy certainly wants to some teams names mentioned and he then adds in a mystery team at some point.
The Tigers need to get something going. Not sure Bregman is the right answer though. Put that money into the starting rotation.
Imagine being in a position where you say to yoursef, “Yeah I can do better than $40m per year”.
Self
What a wonderful world
Rabbit hole gone down. Am off from work today and Louis Armstrong and scotch are on the menu!
Jazz and scotch on a day off, you’ve got plenty riches right there to celebrate.
J-J-Jah-Jah- Jealous….
Bregman is massively overrated, and arrogance personified. Keep him away from (the north side of) Chicago.
Exactly cause The North Side isnt arrogant
LOL
Cubs definitely doesn’t need him, guve Shaw a chance and put the money into pitching
Mercy
Bregman is such an enigma. On paper he’s an average to above average player…off paper he adds an element of baseball that can’t be replicated. As long as he hits .250+ (it’s as simple as that…the rest of the stats will follow) he is a good MLB player who delivers in crunch time. When does that ride end though? This year? 6 years from now? Tough gauge considering his skill set. I’d bet on him lasting a bit though….
Man some of you guys here are so obsessed with batting average that it’s literally the only statistic you can think about
Batting average is the rarest commodity in the sport currently. If you don’t find extra value in scarcity, along with his solid numbers across the board, you are missing the point.
.365 career OBP ain’t average homey. This isn’t 2019 (or the steroid era$.
Works a count and draws his share of walks. But the counting stats are lackluster suggesting he’s not really impacting the scoreboard very often. His output is very similar to D Swanson
If he can stay on the field he can play for any team. Sometimes third basemen hold up well. Sometimes not so much. I don’t think the position wears you out like the middle of the field.
Can’t play on the Dodgers.
You’re hilarious. My sides are bursting.
3.5 war for Bregman vs 3.1 war for Shaw vs 4.6 war for Tucker? I think my preference would be to roll with Shaw at third and put the dollars towards getting Tucker back in RF, but I wouldn’t be mad if Cubs sign Bregman and Shaw is part of a Joe Ryan/Byron Buxton trade.
Mike – is that a Joe & Byron deal, or, a Joe or Byron deal?
How quickly can we get a deal done? I’ll drive Alex to Logan myself….there’s flights to O’Hare every hour
I’m just glad the Phillies are NOT in the group. I find Bregman to be well overrated. His stats and injury from 2025 were above average, no more. He hasn’t been elite for five-plus years. And he’s no kid. Good luck, Cubs and Tigers.
Nah on the Cubs, their corners are good to go for the future. Detroit remains viable, as does a Sox return. Hoping on the latter.
My concern is that this wouldn’t make the Cubs lineup any better than it was last season with Tucker, and I felt like their lineup still needed a true power threat last year – especially with how poor Tucker performed in the 2nd half.
I’d rather see them add Eugenio Suarez than Bregman if they are going to add a 3B. Busch, Suzuki, Suarez would give them 3 bats that should all be able to hit 30 HRs. I don’t trust PCA to replicate his 2025 output. You know what you’re going to get from Hoerner, Swanson and Happ. I’m hoping Ballesteros can be a Josh Naylor type of hitter. Good AVG and decent power. If he can hit .290 with 20+ HRs, that has solid value.
Anthony, don’t appease that Cubs front office like this. They only want Bregman on a short-term contract. They are only there as a fallback option for him in case he doesn’t get the long-term offer he wants.
If the Tigers were to spend 50 million a year on a player let it be Skubal. 45 million a year for third base ? Good grief. I think everyone in Detroit would like to see the Tigers win it all, but boy those long term deals during the rebuilds are killers. Victor, and Miguel were great deals, then their knee injuries made the contracts seem very long.
If 40 Million a year wasn’t enough to stay in Boston, what would it take ? The Tigers are exciting to watch like they are, when they are hitting. I don’t think over spending for third base will make them better to watch. Minnesota tried that with the S.S deal, and they’ve busted that all up now. Hopium works well for me. Spending crazily is not something I’d like to see, but we’ll wait and see. GO TIGERS !
I don’t see him looking to top $40mm per year. It will be the total of the contract that will entice him to sign. He’s hoping his pay for year 3, 4, 5 will be greater by signing in 2025, than it would be if he signed a contract after 2027. Also, he may prefer staying in one city, rather than having to become a FA every year on one year contracts as he ages.
Bregman is the ultimate baseball player.
He is above average hitting. The worst OPS+ he has ever had is 113.
Since we are talking Cubs, Ryne Sandberg had 9 seasons below that number.
He has the highest baseball I.Q. I have seen since Jeff Bagwell and it shows on the field.
He talks to pitchers and tells them what works best and how to get certain types of hitters out. Hunter Brown, Yusei Kikuchi, and several more have specifically given him credit for advice that improved their game.
If an average FA is worth $8M per WAR Bregman is worth $12-13M because he adds so much off the field. I would estimate he personally added 1.0 WAR of value to those 2 pitchers alone in 2024.
The problem is the same as with any FA. Will he be able to still get 2 WAR 5 or 6 years from now?
Baseball has a labor problem because star players way overperform their pay for 6-7 years lining owners’ pockets, then when they finally earn the ability to earn big $$$, teams don’t want to pay because they are getting older and no longer in their prime.
And not wanting to pay $25 million per year for a 35 year old guy who is no longer an all-star is perfectly reasonable.
If owners don’t want to commit to players into their later years or pay big dollars for declining performance, then players need a system that pays them better when they are in their primes.
I don’t know the answer, just the problem.
He also knows how to lie and cheat. Talent all the way around with this guy.
Rent free in your head 8 years after it happened and 6 years after MLB and the teams put it behind them.
If the holier than thou Dodgers are so innocent and against cheating then. . .
Why did they bring in 2018 Red Sox cheaters Mookie Betts and J D. Martinez
And then
Hire the guy who was suspended for the 2018 Red Sox cheating scandal after he served his suspension and was reinstated by MLB
on their recommendation?
Interesting how you defend and then attack. You do realize it doesn’ matter if it happened yesterday or 20 years ago right? The guy cheated and is an a-hole to boot.
It wasn’t just the cheating. It was the lack of any true apology or remorse, or even acknowledgement of the situation. Astros had an amazingly talented team, but they were arrogant in how they handled the cheating aftermath.
We all make mistakes, but I own my mistakes.
Fair enough.
For the record I have been an Astros fan for over 45 years and absolutely think they cheated and deserved everything they got.
I just feel that some other teams DIDN’T.
One thing’s for sure: they don’t have anyone nearly as cool as Jose Cruz (the 1st one).
84,
You mean the mathematician?
/s
You do I do
But none of the teams in MLB did, yes, including the Astros.
Astros were guilty. But I would be pissed too if I was singled out as a scapegoat by the commissioners office to avoid another league wide scandal.
The sad thing is they were so damn talented they didn’t need to do it.
I might dislike what they did, the results of it, and the way they handled it. But there’s no denying the talent on that team.
Cubs rather sign TJ an aging player than sign their young and productive second baseman…..oh Ricketts, you truly hate paying the homegrown talent
What an ignorant statement. What homegrown talent did they let go that they should have kept? Make sure to use the proper context on examples.
The Cubs need at least one prime offensive weapon, and 3rd and RF are the two open slots. If they re-sign Tucker (or snag Bellinger for a second go-around), then they can ride with Shaw at third. If they go the rookie route in RF, then they need to upgrade at 3rd. I like Shaw. He’s promising. He could develop into something decent. But there’s no reason to covet him like some prized possession if the opportunity to upgrade is there. With Bregman, it is. Every year, there’s going to be some minor leaguer getting fans excited about the future; Shaw isn’t the first or the last. By the time Bregman is ready to move on, there will be a new Shaw in Iowa. I feel similarly if we were to switch Bregman’s name for Suarez’s.
I’m leaving 1B off the list of open slots just because there’s reason to think Busch will start hitting lefties, and he’s spectacular when playing, so roll the dice with that guy.
P.S. The idea of letting Hoerner go in free agency is very unappealing. That guy is money. Cubs need to keep him in the fold.
Dude was hitting 9th on his team. Classic fan vote all-star that didn’t deserve the honor. The media pushed the story of his resurgence and people bought it. He changed positions well and played solid D but his hitting is always questionable
You must be a finger sniffer.
Shaw had a “reasonably impressive “season. Why spend $ on a replacement? This is going to be the BEST off season. lol Cubs
Leaving aside Bregman to the Cubs is nothing more than Boras generated propaganda, the Cubs will go over the CBT threshold this season and do a reset in 2027 when virtually everyone making more that 5 bucks comes off the payroll save for Swanson who will be done in 2028. Further, don’t be surprised if one or two Cubs players that are FA in 2027 get traded this winter.
Cubs, Tigers & Red Sox…..same article from the 2024 Off-Season lol
What exactly are the Tigers doing with Colt Keith? He’s improved every year and finally has an opening at what should be his best position: 3B. I thought his defense looked much better toward the end of last year after they finally gave him some reps.
Is Bregman really going to provide that much more production than Keith commensurate with the additional $$$?
I think a better idea would be to upgrade the lineup with a RH hitting OF. Perez, Vierling and JJones are all pretty mediocre as far as MLB OFers go.
Hey look, someone is making fun of Detroit. How clever and novel!
Bregman will be in Detroit, not Chicago. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. Seattle could also be lurking.
Hire the Superfife!
I’ll show you….
Boras is nothing but a cheap Mickey Dolenz impersonator…..
The Tigers need to shake it up….
That little word-play Boras does is tedious and condescending.
Please don’t do it Cubs…
Detroit is a much better city than whatever s*** hole you live in go outside and touch grass this ain’t the beginning of the 2000s anymore Detroit has evolved and is now a nice city to visit with plenty of things to do
Sounds nice but I don’t see it happening.
Right now the Cubs are tied to King, Imai and Bregman. So to me this is just Jed checking on potential targets
I do see a and path here. If it is Bregman then Jed uses Shaw etc to get a #2. More along Gore and Ryan level as combined they should net 40M
Boston deferred 1/2 of the deal away. Jed can put up 30-35M for 4 years then trade Shaw, Wiggins, Caissie to Minn for Ryan it gives a missing RH middle of the order hitter.
Extending Hoerner is not going to be difficult going forward. Shaw would be on lower pressure to adjust on a bad team.
Going forward Busch, PCA, MoBaller from the left. Bregman and Suzuki from the right balances the team
Bregman fits the Sox or Tigers more than the Cubs.
I can honestly admit to not seeing much of Shaw but in the series against the Red Sox it seemed like the Sox couldn’t get him out
Would like to see the Cubs sign him and then use Shaw as part of an offer (maybe with Ballesteros, Alcantara and Wing) and see if that’s good enough to land Gore from the Nats. Feel like their ask was rumored to be pretty big at the deadline but he also declined a bit in the second half so who knows.
You ate off that dude
I’d rather see Detroit pony up $$$ for Bellinger. I don’t want to see another long expensive albatross contract, and Bregman will be that.
I’d put Javy at 3B, McGonigle at SS, Gleyber at 2B, Keith/Tork platooning at 1B.
And when Max Clark is ready, put him in CF and move Bellinger to the corners.
I like that a lot better than adding Bregman, although I think McG & Max need some AAA seasoning.
Thanks Borassss for this Déjà vu rumor
Is this headline really true or some bluster from Scott Boras through his mouthpiece Jon Heyman??? I loved having Bregman on the Sox last year.
Yes, he isn’t the player he was in his prime, but I’d still love having him back. He has all the intangibles. I think he still has something in the tank.
I also think he was NUTS to opt out of $80 MILLION, but that’s him & his agents idea. I hope he’s back….at our price.