BORAS LEVERAGE: MEGA-AGENT FORCES CHICAGO TO COMPETE WITH WEST COAST MONEY
CHICAGO, IL—The Chicago Cubs’ hopes of landing star free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman have become exponentially more complicated and expensive. Just as momentum seemed to shift back to the North Side after the loss of Kyle Tucker, the Seattle Mariners have formally entered the race, a move engineered by Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, to force the Cubs into a “pay-up” situation.
The Mariners, typically hesitant to offer nine-figure deals, are now a plausible suitor after Boras initiated discussions, expressing Bregman’s “willingness to consider Seattle as a destination.” This tactic instantly creates a fierce bidding war, pushing the price tag for the star third baseman far beyond the four-year deal the Cubs offered last offseason.
SCOTT BORAS’ STRATEGIC MANEUVER
Boras’s strategy is clear: use the Mariners, a contender with payroll flexibility, as a strong leverage point against the Cubs and the Boston Red Sox (Bregman’s most recent team), who have both shown reluctance to offer the long-term, high-AAV contract Bregman desires.
- The Pressure on the Cubs: Chicago has publicly and privately shown immense interest, even holding a Zoom meeting with Bregman recently. The Cubs need his elite right-handed bat and World Series pedigree to offset the loss of Kyle Tucker. Boras is signaling that the Cubs must now significantly sweeten their previous four-year, $115 million offer if they want to avoid losing their top offensive target to a new competitor.
- The Red Sox Factor: The Red Sox are the sentimental favorite but have reportedly been hesitant to offer a long-term contract to a player entering his 30s. The Mariners’ entry forces Boston’s hand to either commit or risk losing Bregman to a new league.
THE MARINERS’ UNEXPECTED ADVANTAGE
While many analysts doubt the Mariners’ ownership will ultimately deliver the $150+ million contract Bregman will seek, their presence in the discussions fundamentally changes the dynamic.
- Clubhouse Fit: The Mariners have a young, talented core (led by Julio Rodríguez) and a clear need at third base after Eugenio Suárez departed. Adding a proven winner would instantly vault them into World Series contention.
- AL West Rivalry: A deal for Bregman would serve as a major statement against the Houston Astros, a lingering source of rivalry that could attract an ambitious owner.
For the Cubs, the choice is stark: enter a serious, high-end bidding war against a large-market, playoff-caliber club or risk another quiet offseason defined by the one that got away. Bregman is the definitive final piece that stabilizes the Cubs’ infield and powers their offense, and Boras has made it known that the price to secure him will be defined by the Mariners’ willingness to spend.
