Deferred money in free agent contacts appears to be the big new trend. allowing the richer teams to sign players to deals without committing current dollars. That is what makes a reported 3-year $120 million contract for Alex Bregman actually a 3-year $90 million deal — making Scott Boras look like a genius and servicing the ego of a player who appeared to make a big mistake by not accepting an earlier deal.
Meanwhie, the Cubs refused to play the deferral game, offering Bregman just under $30 million a year for 4 years with with 2 opt outs. So, it would seem that if the Cubs has been willing to throw in some deferred money, Bregman would be their 3rd baseman for at least two years.
We all have very high hopes for Matt Shaw, and by not signing Bregman, it opens the door for him to take over at third base for the indefinite future. It also confirms that Nico Hoerner will stay with the team at 2nd, and opens the possibility of a couple more signings to bolster the bench, bullpen and or possibly the starting rotation,
But for a team so desperate to get back to the playoffs, Bregman would have provided a known quntity offensively and defensively that Shaw would not. A lineup with Bregman in the top 6 would, at least on paper, have been more potent. Having Bregman on the roster would have made me more confident that the CUbs could be a 90-win team.
So, my question at the moment is the reasoning behind the Cubs unwillingness to do deferrals. I’m sure there will be speculation, but it will be interesting to hear if they will answer the question directly.
Cubs in 7 
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