Cubs $70 million Alex Bregman update makes $175M contract even better

Matt Sullivan

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Cubs $70 million Alex Bregman update makes $175M contract even better image

The Chicago Cubs made a massive free agent splash by signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract.

It's a great signing from the Cubs, in that they land a great new third baseman who can provide quality defense and at-bats for Chicago in the wake of losing Kyle Tucker.

While it's an incredible deal for the Cubs already, the contract update reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic makes this signing even better.

Cubs' Alex Bregman deal is even better than it seems

"The Cubs agreement includes $70 million in deferrals," Rosenthal writes, "which is expected to lower the present-day value to the $150 to $155M range, according to sources briefed on the details."

This update from Rosenthal, on the $70 million in deferrals, is a big piece of news for the Cubs. This means the Cubs are on the hook for $30 to $31 million per-year, instead of $35 million per-year.

But, as Jesse Rogers of ESPN alludes to, it's even better for the Cubs than that. Due to the AAV decrease, the Cubs are now a few million under the luxury tax threshold.

More: Cubs' Alex Bregman contract details involve $175 million, five years

By being under the luxury tax threshold, the Cubs are likely saving a lot of money, potentially millions of dollars.

Not only did the Cubs replace Tucker's bat, get an upgrade at third base, and finally land a big-ticket free agent, but the front office negotiated a deal that's an incredible one for the Cubs.

While it's still a lot of money for a 32-year-old third baseman, this update from Rosenthal and Rogers makes this free-agent signing a whole lot sweeter for Cubs fans.

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