FROM GROK – Cubs Make Bold Move for Alex Bregman: Contract Details Pending
Last updated 9:31AM
The Chicago Cubs have made a significant push to sign free agent Alex Bregman, offering him a contract with a high annual average value and multiple opt-out clauses. While the exact terms of the deal, such as a rumored five-year, $127.4 million contract, remain unconfirmed, the interest from the Cubs is clear. Discussions among fans and analysts have centered on how Bregman’s addition could reshape team dynamics and affect the Cubs’ financial strategy, particularly concerning the luxury tax. Despite interest from teams like the Detroit Tigers, who have also been active in the free agent market, the Cubs appear to be leading the race for Bregman’s signature. As spring training approaches, the baseball community eagerly awaits the finalization of this high-profile deal.
I was just sitting here about to criticize Jed Hoyer for going another offseason without committing major long-term money. I’m actually kinda salty that it’s February 5th and the biggest contract we gave out this winter was to #5 starting pitcher Matt Boyd. Like I was literally just firing up a blog calling out Tom for not giving Jed enough money to be realistic.
In my mind, I can just easily imagine Tom Ricketts sitting at a conference table, audibly moaning throughout another budget presentation.
HOW COME JON LESTER DIDN’T COST THIS MUCH?
Because that was 10 fucking years ago Tom but I digress.
The most important thing is that Alex Bregman is one of the best baseball players you could add to the Chicago Cubs. He’s one of the best defensive infielders alive. One of the best fastball hitters. One of the most clutch guys and just an intense gamer for 162 games a year. Literally one of my favorite players of all time and that’s before/after the scandal and notwithstanding these rumors. With or without Alex Bregman on the Cubs, I will always love his game.
If they get him, you’re probably trying to trade Nico Hoerner in return to get younger pitching while Matt Shaw takes over at 2nd base. You’re taking a small risk on a highly-touted prospect to swap Nico with Bregman. And then you have a gold glove left side of the infield which is exactly what you need with a pitching staff that generates a lot of weak contact. It’s a really smart strategy to put Bregman next to Dansby Swanson when your throwing Shota, Steele, Taillon, etc. Those guys need playmakers behind them to dominate to their potential.
As far as financials, I don’t care because it costs so much to go to Cubs games. Tom Ricketts can afford the budget and luxury tax and whatever else is required here. I’m not saying go spend $750M on a Juan Soto and be completely reckless. But if this comes down to merely taking on more luxury tax or having less flexibility in arbitration for Pete Crow-Armstrong, then you can really pound sand Tom. This is the perfect opportunity to win back fanbase that largely thinks you’re a wet cheapskate. That’s really the only way any fan should be looking at the financial dynamics. I didn’t stop going to Cubs games because they raised the cost so much so don’t start pulling back on free agents just because it’s the same for you Tom. Does that make sense?
As for trading out Nico for Bregman, this is something I could use data and stats to explain. I could get scouting reports and talk about makeup and culture. Or you guys could just trust me that Alex Bregman is one of the best professionals you could add to any roster in any sport. The most hardworking, intense position player I can think of and just a fucking force inbetween the lines. Going back to his high school days in New Mexico, this guy has been a legend since he broke on the scene.
So much that I’ll leave you with one of my favorite amateur baseball stories ever.
Alex Bregman wanted to get drafted in the 1st round out of high school. He was a top infielder but very undersized. And he was committed to LSU to be their starting shortstop. He made it very clear to scouts that he would not sign if he wasn’t drafted in the 1st round.
So draft comes around and Bregman gets a call in the compensation round. He could go 30-something overall. It’s the group of picks outside the 1st round. Every team passed on him because he was simply too small to use the 1st pick on. But he was still very good so he got calls from scouts about the compensation round. Getting picked that high is almost a guarantee for a $1,000,000+ signing bonus and fast track to the big leagues. It’s a near perfect situation for a high school shortstop like Alex Bregman.
So he gets the calls and basically tells everyone to fuck off. Don’t even bother calling him and offering a bigger signing bonus. Don’t think you can buy him out of his obsession with being a 1st round pick. He doesn’t want your money. All he wants is to be somebody’s most important draft pick, and everyone thought he was too small. So don’t insult him by coming back later and asking him to be your 2nd or 3rd most important pick. That’s not the environment he wants to play in.
Pretty fucking crazy right? At least it seems entitled from the outside… many think it’s a diva move to influence your own draft position.
The reality is that he knew how good he was and he didn’t want to go work for/play with an organization that isn’t smart enough to see his value. At least that’s what Bregman thought. So he went to LSU and became of the best players in program history. Then he got drafted 2nd overall and then he immediately proved to everyone that passing on him in 2012 was a complete mistake.
And honestly, that chip on his shoulder has only gotten bigger over the years. He plays so competitively and hard and mean. It’s like every day he’s out there to prove everyone in the stadium that he belongs on the field, and I think that all goes back to his high school days in New Mexico. Too small in an empty state with weak competition and weird elevation and limited history.
That kinda shit never goes away for some baseball players and I think that’s why Alex Bregman plays so hard. It’s in his blood as an athlete and that’s exactly why I want him playing 3rd base for the Chicago Cubs.