In a pivotal year, the Cubs are currently more than $30 million beneath the $241 million luxury-tax threshold, according to FanGraphs.

The Cubs ushered in the first day of spring training on Sunday, as the first team to hold official pitchers and catchers workouts. Alex Bregman was still unsigned. “I obviously can’t comment on any individual players,” president of baseball operations Hoyer said when asked what it would take to get talks to the finish line.

Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer felt the situation was right to make his case to ownership. While former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman’s free agency stretched through the offseason and into February,