Jed Hoyer is still in his bag of making the worst possible efforts for the Chicago Cubs given the latest rumors surrounding the team's pursuit of free agent Alex Bregman.

The Chicago Cubs are still looking to shake up their roster with less than a month before the start of spring training.

The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros liked trading with each other so much in December that they decided to do it again. The first blockbuster trade between the two clubs represented a seismic shift in Houston's future strategy.

Astros star Jose Altuve is "willing to do whatever," including switching positions, to keep Alex Bregman with Houston.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that the Astros are sending reliever Ryan Pressly and cash considerations to the Cubs. In exchange, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reported that minor league pitcher Juan Bello will head to the Astros.

The Chicago Cubs currently are rolling with a 40-man roster that does not have an immediately clear option at third base.  They traded away Isaac Paredes

The Chicago Cubs could swoop into the $200 million Alex Bregman sweepstakes and steal the star infielder from the Houston Astros.

HOUSTON — Longtime Houston Astros closer Ryan Pressly has reportedly waived his no-trade clause, clearing the way with a trade to the Chicago Cubs. The news was reported by Jeff Passan with ESPN, Jon Heyman with MLB Network and Bob Nightengale with USA Today. The deal is pending a physical.

While most signs point to Alex Bregman joining a new club this offseason, he reportedly could be back in Houston next year. According to USA Today's

The Cubs notably acquired star outfielder Kyle Tucker last month, sending Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith to the Astros in exchange. Pressly, 36, lost his closer role last year when the Astros signed Josh Hader to a five-year, $95 million deal last offseason.

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, if the Astros were able to re-sign Bregman to a long-term extension, they are willing to reshape their defense to have him return to third base. Heyman reported on Friday that the team could look to move new addition Isaac Paredes to second base while shifting Jose Altuve to left field,

The Houston Astros reached a tentative agreement to trade Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs, clearing the way for Alex Bregman to return to the Astros.