For the second time in a week, the Chicago Cubs are being connected to 27-year-old free agent infielder Bo Bichette, this time by Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon at The Athletic.
“The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs are among the teams talking to both [Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman], according to people briefed on the conversations. The Blue Jays have been in touch with both, too, but now appear more focused on Tucker.
The Cubs’ interest in Bichette, first reported by Jon Heyman, stems from their desire to upgrade at third base – something the signing of Bregman also would accomplish.”
The reporting here caught my eye not only because of the big names, but because, to date this offseason, there hasn’t been a whole lot in the way of sourced rumors coming from Rosenthal and Sammon about the Cubs. Some of that could simply be that the Cubs aren’t doing much exciting behind the scenes, but some of it could be that they’ve played things exceedingly close to the vest, as they prefer to do. So when Rosenthal and Sammon drop something so plainly like this – something that would appear to stem from Heyman’s original mention of Bo Bichette, and then some follow-up digging around – I pay attention.
Even if I am mostly going to talk myself out of it being all that serious.
We’ve obviously long known about the Cubs’ interest in Alex Bregman, but it’s only recently that chatter about Bichette has ticked up.
Bo Bichette, a career shortstop, is believed to be just about ready for a move to second base or third base, and, after a huge bounce-back year at the plate in 2025, is one of the best bats on the market. Some projections have him getting a $200 million deal, which, candidly, is very difficult to see the Cubs providing. (For more on the Cubs’ possible interest in Bichette, and how he breaks down as a free agent target, see this earlier discussion.)
If you forced me to offer an explanation here for why the Cubs are suddenly getting multiple mentions on Bichette, it would not be because I think they are pulling out all the stops to sign him. Instead, my explanation would look something like this: the monster offer hasn’t yet come for Bichette, his camp would really like to get some more clarity and finalized offers sooner rather than later, the Cubs have expressed interest in the sense that they’d talk about a fall-back deal if things REALLY fell apart for him, and now some leaking is happening. It doesn’t mean the Cubs’ interest isn’t “real,” it just might mean that it’s extremely “call us if you get desperate.”
Which, hey, to be clear, is a perfectly fine strategy for a guy who isn’t a primary target for your offseason. Sometimes, crazy things happen with the musical chairs in other places, and then late January rolls around and a guy DOES get desperate. Better to at least get that phone call than not, and maybe some creative contract can be worked out.
Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, Nico Hoerner, Matt Shaw, and the Chicago Cubs
Now, then, I think it’s also important to note a few of the other names that show up in the reporting – Alex Bregman, Nico Hoerner, and Matt Shaw – and how this all relates to the Cubs’ offseason approach in the infield, with the offense, and with the dollars they have available. And why more of it is coming out right now.
The Cubs’ interest in Alex Bregman is as long-standing as it is publicly-confirmed. We know the Cubs liked him last year and tried to sign him. There’s no reason to believe that has fundamentally changed this year, subject to the financial component. It is entirely possible that any reported Cubs interest in Bo Bichette is partly about them keeping the pressure on Scott Boras and Bregman. They have other options, or something like that. (I think this is unlikely – at least as a direct and complete explanation – but it’s a non-zero item.)
As for Hoerner, I won’t reiterate my thoroughly-expressed position that, yes, the Cubs should listen, and, no, I don’t think a trade is likely. Admittedly, this Athletic piece seems to contemplate a little more seriousness in the possibility of a trade, but even it acknowledges that the Cubs “have not fully explored his trade market.” Hoerner is not being shopped.
But if the Cubs were open and willing to accept a MASSIVE offer for Hoerner, and were otherwise eager to sign one of Bichette or Bregman, then it would probably be OK with them if these rumors got out. Let other teams come to them, believing the Cubs may feel some pressure to act on a Hoerner trade in advance of finalizing a free agent deal. (Also seems pretty unlikely, but I’m trying to be thorough here.)
Finally, it’s at least conceivable that some of this is actually about the Cubs wanting to extend Nico Hoerner! The rumors of interest in possible long-term replacements gets out, concurrent with trade rumors, and then the Cubs have an opportunity to go to Hoerner and say, “Hey, this stuff is all bunk, we are committed to you long-term, and to prove it, here’s an extension offer that we hope you’ll accept.” (This one might be a little fan-driven wish-casting, but it’s possible.)
Ultimately, what’s the most likely explanation for these three names – plus Matt Shaw – coming up all together? Because the Cubs are simply open to a lot of possible paths, depending on how the prices/trade returns/timing shake out. I think the Cubs simply do really like Alex Bregman. I think the Cubs simply are interested in Bo Bichette if his market falls apart, particularly given that they see third base as one possible area to upgrade the offense. I think the Cubs feel they have to at least listen on Nico Hoerner trade calls. I think the Cubs would love to extend Hoerner on a reasonable deal. And I think the Cubs would be open to using Matt Shaw in a utility role for a year, or including him in a trade for a starting pitcher if it was the right deal. All of these things can be true at once, and, in some ways, it’s expressly a front office’s job to hold all of them open as possibilities at the same time.
It’s fun to think about there being some overarching, double-secret-probation explanation for the Cubs’ path this offseason, but history suggests the much simpler story: the Cubs love flexibility and optionality, and they REALLY love deals-deals-deals.
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