The Chicago Cubs missed out on another premier free agent Wednesday evening when Alex Bregman officially agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox. Bregman’s free agency saga lasted until after teams began reporting to Spring Training and it was known that he would choose a team by the end of the week so he could report to camp on time.
Chicago’s final offer to the 30-year-old third baseman was an extremely fair one that fans can’t be too disappointed about based on its’ parameters. The deal submitted by Jed Hoyer was for four years and $120 million, a deal that is way out of the Cubs’ typical comfort zone.
Opt-outs would have been involved in the contract, but when the Red Sox offer blew Chicago’s out of the water, there wasn’t much that could have been done. Boston put an extra $10 million per season on the table for Bregman and took off a year as well. The former first round draft pick will be making $120 million for three years with opt-outs included after the first two years.
The Cubs will have to pivot on the free agent front yet again if they want to add another infielder for the 2025 season. Despite throwing a strong offer Bregman’s way, there were financial implications that prevented Chicago from fully giving everything they could in a final offer.
Financial restriction prevented Chicago Cubs from signing Bregman
Bruce Levine reported that Hoyer had multiple conversations with Tom Ricketts about the having the funds for Bregman and the results are pretty disappointing.
“Cubs Jed Hoyer said he had many, many emails and text with owner Tom Ricketts about money availability for Alex Bregman,” Levine reported. “Cubs will not defer money any longer on contract offers. The team is still paying Jason Heyward and Jon Lester on deferred deals.”
The Dodgers have become the kings of deferring money and while the rest of the baseball world thinks it is wrong, they seem to be doing alright as the defending champions. In order for Boston to secure Bregman, they had to defer money on their offer as well.
If the Cubs want to stay afloat as a big market team trying to compete in today’s game, they will have to get with the times or they will be left behind. Many are frustrated with the money deferred argument as well because the organization is only giving Lester $2 million a year until 2026 and Heyward $5 million a season until 2027.
No Alex Bregman means it’s Matt Shaw time for the Chicago Cubs
With Bregman off the table, it will likely be Matt Shaw as the Opening Day third baseman in Chicago this season. The 2023 first round draft choice has soared through the Cubs’ farm system and is well deserving of an opportunity to break camp with the big league club.
Shaw won the Brooks Wallace Award, which for the nation’s top shortstop in his final season of college baseball at Maryland. His defensive game has translated well to the hot corner since being draft by the Cubs and with Cam Smith on the move in the Kyle Tucker trade, it was made clear that it’s Shaw’s job for the long haul.
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