Levine: Alex Bregman Open to Short-Term Deals, Cubs Have Talked to Scott Boras About It

[squally1313]

I find it hard to believe there's a team out there who would give up a cost controlled mid rotation starter and $12m (x 2 years) for Nico Hoerner instead of just....signing Alex Bregman themselves. 

[Randall Simon]

1 hour ago, gflore34 said:

Is it possible there really is no market for Bregman and Boras is trying, with well placed rumors, to create one?

This. He only has short term offers for sure. If he had a 5 or 6 year offer he'd have signed it already. 

He'll end up signing a Belli type offer no doubt. 

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, Randall Simon said:

This. He only has short term offers for sure. If he had a 5 or 6 year offer he'd have signed it already. 

He'll end up signing a Belli type offer no doubt. 

The Bowden report gives a reason for why he hasn't signed one of those 5/6 year deals - they're a drop in yearly salary for Bregman over what he made last year. True or not, it would make some sense as to:

1. Why he hasn't signed yet.

2. Why he' entertain shorter deals, if yearly salary matters that much. 

[Rcal10]

26 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

The Bowden report gives a reason for why he hasn't signed one of those 5/6 year deals - they're a drop in yearly salary for Bregman over what he made last year. True or not, it would make some sense as to:

1. Why he hasn't signed yet.

2. Why he' entertain shorter deals, if yearly salary matters that much. 

Is there even a remote possibility Jed does offer Bregman a 5 year deal with deferred money attached? I mean we all assune(with good reason) that Jed won’t do it, but he did sign Swanson for 7 years. What if he gave in $135M for 5 years but with deferring some money it only ended up costing him $19M to $20M for LT purposes? Cubs would still have a little money for a bench bat or maybe Chafin in the pen. My guess is ,NO, it isn’t possible. But who knows.🤷

[CubinNY]

14 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Is there even a remote possibility Jed does offer Bregman a 5 year deal with deferred money attached? I mean we all assune(with good reason) that Jed won’t do it, but he did sign Swanson for 7 years. What if he gave in $135M for 5 years but with deferring some money it only ended up costing him $19M to $20M for LT purposes? Cubs would still have a little money for a bench bat or maybe Chafin in the pen. My guess is ,NO, it isn’t possible. But who knows.🤷

No

[Rcal10]

17 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

No

😅 I know that is insane thinking. 

[Thusly Boned]

46 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Is there even a remote possibility Jed does offer Bregman a 5 year deal with deferred money attached? I mean we all assune(with good reason) that Jed won’t do it, but he did sign Swanson for 7 years. What if he gave in $135M for 5 years but with deferring some money it only ended up costing him $19M to $20M for LT purposes? Cubs would still have a little money for a bench bat or maybe Chafin in the pen. My guess is ,NO, it isn’t possible. But who knows.🤷

Well Swanson was younger and coming off his best season (and getting better year over year) when the Cubs signed him. And he has a much better defensive skillset. Bregman has been declining, and isn't going to offer much I the way of defensive value as his bat abandons him.

I'd be all about giving him 2-3 years (with options), but I don't think Jed would go beyond Bellinger type deal, especially if the team is really confident in Shaw. 

Of course I think the rumors of the Cubs interest are largely exaggerated to drum up demand, and if I had to bet, I'd put my money on him going back to Houston. Unless Toronto is so desperate to actually land a name player that they do something foolish.

[Rcal10]

42 minutes ago, Thusly Boned said:

Well Swanson was younger and coming off his best season (and getting better year over year) when the Cubs signed him. And he has a much better defensive skillset. Bregman has been declining, and isn't going to offer much I the way of defensive value as his bat abandons him.

I'd be all about giving him 2-3 years (with options), but I don't think Jed would go beyond Bellinger type deal, especially if the team is really confident in Shaw. 

Of course I think the rumors of the Cubs interest are largely exaggerated to drum up demand, and if I had to bet, I'd put my money on him going back to Houston. Unless Toronto is so desperate to actually land a name player that they do something foolish.

I tend to agree that the Cubs possibly signing him is exaggerated. 

[MarkBellhorn]

now that Mariners signed Polanco , The Nico to the Mainers angle is dead. Yankees last had interested in Nico and are till looking to deal Stroman  opening up a three team possbility.

Edited February 1, 2025 by MarkBellhorn

[Jason Ross]

9 minutes ago, MarkBellhorn said:

now that Mariners signed Polanco , The Nico to the Mainers angle is dead. Yankees last had interested in Nico and are till looking to deal Stroman  opening up a three team possbility.

The Cubs are not trading Nico to the Yankees for Stroman. Stroman looks like toast and Nico is coming off a 4 win season. 

[BigbadB]

14 hours ago, squally1313 said:

I find it hard to believe there's a team out there who would give up a cost controlled mid rotation starter and $12m (x 2 years) for Nico Hoerner instead of just....signing Alex Bregman themselves. 

It's also hard to believe Bregman is balking on a 6/156 offer.

[Bertz]

My guess, assuming we're not getting a bunch of outright lies, is this is the state of play:

- Something about the Astros offer sucks.  Deferrals, a vesting option. something like that.  Bregman wants to go back so decent chance this works still

- The Tigers offer is decent.  Probably on the low end of what Bregman would take, but he doesn't want to go to Detroit so he's hoping someone else steps up

- Cubs are offering something Bellinger-esque

- Red Sox are offering something stupid.  4/100 with no options or something like that.  They're going to get a "we tried" out of this

- Mets haven't seriously engaged, but are interested until Alonso inevitably re-signs

And thus we wait for someone to step up or Bregman to take Detroit's money.

[MarkBellhorn]

16 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

The Cubs are not trading Nico to the Yankees for Stroman. Stroman looks like toast and Nico is coming off a 4 win season. 

 

As I mentioned  3 team trade.  Wasn't saying the Cubs are taking back Stroman. 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, MarkBellhorn said:

 

As I mentioned  3 team trade.  Wasn't saying the Cubs are taking back Stroman. 

Even then, there's a big discrepancy in value between Hoerner and Stroman. Enough that there is almost no trade to be had, even with a third party. 

[CubinNY]

I kinda think it’s “the Cubs still have not spent”, “the agent(s) are leaking”, there have been talks but nothing serious. 
 

They can’t fit Bergman under their budget, the Padres want a lot for Cease, and their closer is expensive and 36. 
 

it’s the tail end of the silly season. If they get Bergman I expect they will trade Shaw for Cease, but not before. But I don’t think either has a high likelihood of happening. 
 

And we will get a one or two year WS or bust team and reset after the new CBA. 

[Rcal10]

18 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

I kinda think it’s “the Cubs still have not spent”, “the agent(s) are leaking”, there have been talks but nothing serious. 
 

They can’t fit Bergman under their budget, the Padres want a lot for Cease, and their closer is expensive and 36. 
 

it’s the tail end of the silly season. If they get Bergman I expect they will trade Shaw for Cease, but not before. But I don’t think either has a high likelihood of happening. 
 

And we will get a one or two year WS or bust team and reset after the new CBA. 

The problem with the idea of if they get Bregman they then trade Shaw for Cease is twofold. First, under no circumstances would I want the Cubs to trade Shaw for a rental pitcher. So that would be a non starter. And then, if they did sign Bregman they don’t have the budget to trade for Cease. As you said, highly unlikely. 
I think if they signed Bregman they would trade Hoerner and let Shaw and Berti man second. Maybe they then sign Roberson. Hoerner would bring back a prospect. And I highly doubt this as well. 

[SOFNR]

30 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

The problem with the idea of if they get Bregman they then trade Shaw for Cease is twofold. First, under no circumstances would I want the Cubs to trade Shaw for a rental pitcher. So that would be a non starter. And then, if they did sign Bregman they don’t have the budget to trade for Cease. As you said, highly unlikely. 
I think if they signed Bregman they would trade Hoerner and let Shaw and Berti man second. Maybe they then sign Roberson. Hoerner would bring back a prospect. And I highly doubt this as well. 

It would also just be terrible mismanagement to trade your two best 3B prospects, plus a good 3B with 3 years of control, to sign a guy who can opt out a year from now.

Edited February 1, 2025 by SOFNR

[Rcal10]

36 minutes ago, SOFNR said:

It would also just be terrible mismanagement to trade your two best 3B prospects, plus a good 3B with 3 years of control, to sign a guy who can opt out a year from now.

I agree. No chance Shaw is moved. Let someone else get Cease or Peller needs to lower his demands. 

[JD94]

I’m with @Bertz in that I think Bregman just does not want to go to Detroit period. 
 

Also I wouldn’t get caught up in Shaw. The Cubs aren’t moving him unless it’s some crazy obvious move that gets you a star under control for multiple years. Otherwise he’s staying. From all accounts they obviously love Shaw and he’s almost untouchable. 

[MarkBellhorn]

Cubs added some more upside infield depth to stash at Iowa in Nicky Lopez.

[Stratos]

2 days old but:

 

[JD94]

Not sure what to make of this. Just another tidbit of info to consider. Feels like we should know one way or another soon. I’ve never bought into we are serious suitors. I would be lying if I said a tiny part of me isn’t holding out some hope though. Would love to add Bregman. You don’t even HAVE to move Nico if you get him. Shaw can start at 2B until Nico is ready. Gives you time to see what he can do. If he struggles, good thing you signed Bregman… if he hits, figure out a way to keep him in the lineup. There will be other injuries and opportunities for him to play regularly. 

[Bertz]

I have not exactly been rah rah for Bregman previously, but I think I'm fully out on him after reading this.

You have to have one hell of a subsequent deal lined up for Nico (or Shaw?) for this to feel anywhere near worth it.

[Jason Ross]

12 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I have not exactly been rah rah for Bregman previously, but I think I'm fully out on him after reading this.

You have to have one hell of a subsequent deal lined up for Nico (or Shaw?) for this to feel anywhere near worth it.

Yeah, that kind of sells me on it as well. You'd have to have a ready-to-go deal for someone else for me to really think it's a good idea and even then the deal would have to be a pretty good one. 

[CubinNY]

Bergman right now.

Edited February 4, 2025 by CubinNY