The Alex Bregman-Cubs connection continues to float around the MLB rumor mill and doesn’t appear to be going away until the star third baseman makes his free agency decision.

The Bregman angle picked up more steam on the North Side of Chicago when MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman passed along his opinion on a Bleacher Report live stream Wednesday.

Heyman believes that with the trades to acquire Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly from the Astros this offseason, Bregman to Chicago feels like legitimate smoke.

[MORE: Ryan Pressly makes his pitch for Cubs to sign Alex Bregman]

“At this moment, as we sit here today, I don’t think the Astros can be considered the favorite [for Bregman],” Heyman said. “At this moment, I think the Cubs have done a lot of stuff – I think they’re probably the favorite in that division anyway – but they’ve put themselves in a great spot.

“They’ve gotten Tucker, they’ve gotten Pressly – two guys who were teammates of Bregman. I’m sure they’re in the ear of Jed Hoyer and all the Cubs people right now, talking him up. Not that you have to, because he’s an outstanding all-around player.

“But at this moment, whether it be on a 6-year deal or a 4-year deal with opt-outs … I feel like the Cubs have a decent shot at getting Bregman. Could be proven wrong. We shall see. It is a fluid situation.”

The Cubs have an opening at third base after dealing Isaac Paredes to Houston in the Tucker trade.

[MORE: The latest in Cubs, Alex Bregman free agency pursuit]

Top prospect Matt Shaw is expected to be in competition for the third base job this spring alongside veterans like Jon Berti and Nicky Lopez as well as youngsters like Vidal Bruján and Gage Workman.

Bregman turns 31 in March and is a 2-time All-Star and the reigning Gold Glove winner in the American League at third base. He also has earned MVP votes in 4 seasons, including finishing Top 5 in both 2018 and 2019.

Last season, Bregman compiled 4.1 WAR while hitting 26 homers with 75 RBI and a .768 OPS in 145 games.