Chicago Cubs: This unique 4 year contract offer may actually land them Alex Bregman (report)

The Chicago Cubs reports surrounding Alex Bregman continue to grow.  Several MLB Insiders have echoed over and over again that they are continuing to engage in contract discussion.  Howver, more recently, there has been some belief that the front office is divided as to how long of a deal he should receive as Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, is trying to get him more than the Houston Astros six year, $156 million offer.

It seems unlikely that the Cubs would sign Bregman to a six year deal.  Instead, their best hope is that he signs a shorter term deal, likely with several opt outs, and a higher average annual value (AAV).  As spring training draws closer, this is a real possibility.  Recently a very unique four year contract offer was leaked that could get the job done.

The Chicago Cubs reportedly have a very unique four year contract offer on the table for Alex Bregman

According to Matthew Trueblood at North Side Baseball, the Cubs have a front loaded contract on the table for Bregman that includes numerous opt out opportunities. Trueblood wrote that Bregman is searching for a deal higher than $31.35 million AAV and that the current one is around that range with opt out abilities after each season.

“The deal is believed to be worth around $30 million annually over four years, with multiple opt-outs. Bregman could end up with the right to opt out after any of the first three seasons of the deal, and the structure of the contract would be similar to the one the Cubs signed with Cody Bellinger (another Boras client) last February.”

Additional wrinkles in the contract offer

Other possibilities as to the structure of the offer includes the ability for the Cubs to unlock an extension of Bregman by voiding Bregman’s options or having a vesting option at the end of the contract that is contingent on health or playing time.  Trueblood mentioned Shota Imanaga’s contract as a reference where players’ options get voided.  Specifically with Imanaga, the organization has to decide after this season if they want to increase his average annual value from $15.25 million in 2026 and 2027 to $20.0 million instead.

Additional considerations

One of the last things to keep in mind is that the Cubs are riding a fine line of trying to stay below the lowest threshold of the competitive-balance tax.  Before acquiring Ryan Brasier from the Los Angeles Dodgers, they had just over $35.0 million to spend.  The Dodgers did send cash in that deal to help cover a portion of Brasier’s $4.5 million, so a competitive offer where Bregman makes more than $31.35 million in 2025 is still a real possibility.

It will be interesting to see if the Cubs do end up signing Bregman or not.  One thing we do know is that Jed Hoyer knows how to play ball with Scott Boras and uniquely structured deals have been reached before.