Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon paused, considered his answer and cracked a smile, eliciting some laughter from the group of reporters and cameras surrounding his locker. He had just been asked about the possibility of free agent Alex Bregman being the next marquee addition for the North Siders.

The Boston Red Sox signed Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal. The Chicago Cubs were among the team shooting their shot for Bregman as team president Jed Hoyer was permitted to try to get Bregman to become a Cub by pushing their budget, according to the Chicago-Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro.