Last week, Astros GM Dana Brown revealed that he hopes to talk about a new contract with third baseman Alex Bregman prior to the franchise third baseman hitting the open market this November. At the time of that interview, Brown indicated that he and Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, had briefly talked regarding Bregman’s future and agreed to wait to begin any sort of contract discussions until “things are over.” Now, Bregman himself has chimed in and expressed a similar desire to put his impending free agency out of mind until the 2024 season has wrapped up.
“I haven’t really thought about it too much, honestly,” Bregman told reporters yesterday when asked about the possibility of leaving Houston, as relayed by Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. “Just focused on trying to win a game and get this division clinched… Just been really focused on winning.”
Waiting until the end of the postseason (or for the Astros to be eliminated) before engaging in talks regarding Bregman’s future in Houston comes as something of a surprise, particularly given Brown’s long-standing commitment to talking with the third baseman and his representation before he hits free agency. With that being said, it’s not necessarily a shock from the player’s perspective that he would prefer to focus on the upcoming playoff run before turning to contract negotiations.
Generally, it’s extremely rare for players to re-up with their current club this close to free agency, particularly when it comes to stars of Bregman’s caliber. It does happen on occasion, though, as it did when the Mets retained closer Edwin Diaz on a record-breaking contract just days before free agency opened during the 2022-23 offseason. That Bregman is represented by the Boras Corporation, which has generally advised its clients to establish their values on the open market, could be another potential roadblock to a deal coming together before he hits free agency. Of course, it must be noted that Boras clients do sign extensions with their clubs on occasion; Bregman himself did so earlier in his career, and fellow third baseman Matt Chapman inked a long-term extension with the Giants earlier this month despite a return to free agency being just two months away at that point.
While Bregman’s uncertain future looms over the club in the longer term, a much more immediate concern is the status of star slugger Yordan Alvarez with the playoffs just around the corner. Alvarez exited the club’s game on Sunday due to a right knee sprain, but seemed somewhat optimistic after speaking to reporters about the issue yesterday (X video link courtesy of KHOU11’s Luis Ortiz). Alvarez said that while he’s had an easier time walking in the days since his exit, he still has to wait for the inflammation in his knee to go down before he can return to playing. That will leave him out of action for the club’s final series of the season against Guardians, as manager Joe Espada told reporters (including Kawahara) earlier today.
It’s not necessarily a surprise that the Astros would have Alvarez take the remainder of the regular season off, given his importance to the club’s hopes of making noise in the postseason. After all, Houston clinched their fourth consecutive AL West title last night with a win over the Mariners, and it is no longer possible for them to catch either the Guardians or the eventual AL East champion in order to earn a bye through the upcoming Wild Card Series. That makes the final few games of the regular season largely meaningless for the club, offering them little incentive to rush Alvarez back and potentially worsen his injury woes.
It’s unclear at this point whether or not Alvarez will be ready to return to action in time for the Wild Card series, but even if he doesn’t it’s possible he’ll be available in later postseason rounds should the Astros continue to advance. His regular season comes to a close with a career-high 147 games under his belt and a typically excellent slash line of .308/.392/.567 with a wRC+ of 167 and 35 homers in 635 trips to the plate.
It’s a similar story for outfielder Chas McCormick, who has been on the injured list due to a fractured right hand for just over two weeks now. As relayed by Kawahara, Espada told reporters that McCormick is “moving in the right direction” and “looking pretty good” despite the fact that he won’t be joining the club for its final regular season games in Cleveland. The 29-year-old has resumed baseball activities, including reps in the batting cage and drills in the outfield, and could still be an option for the Astros in next week’s Wild Card Series. McCormick had a disappointing regular season where he hit just .211/.271/.306 (66 wRC+), but he was putting together something of a hot streak in the days prior to his injury as he went 10 for his last 24 with a double, a homer, and a walk in his final eight games of the regular season.
Espada pulled Bregman off the field after the third inning so the crowd could give him a standing ovation in his last regular season home game. I’m pretty sure there is a sense in the clubhouse that this is his last season in Houston.
My sense, too. It was spooky that he was called off the field like that.
Whitcomb’s fielding at third proved to be the most frightening event
I lost track after five errors.
Well after his possible replacement in todays game couldn’t make any plays to third base. I sure hope as to many Houston fans that they try to keep Bregman.
But with all other things Houston will have to look at in off season like first and outfield and even rotation.
Whether they resign Tucker for the outfield. Extend Framber even as those two have been a focus all season.
As to our injured rotation: Javier is out till sedond half at least. I would not look for him earlier but who knows. He may recover great from TJ and rehab better. But who knows. McCullers need to dump but won’t. What contribution he will have. Garcia could he make rotation. I would try to keep Kikuchi. Let Verlander walk. Urquidy may be non tendered. France unsure there. Have not heard his name even mentioned.
Bullpen: Gravemen talking about him returning at least for now. Abreu, Pressly probably back. Neris I doubt. Hader will be closer for sure.
Ort, Ferguson with them. Will Montero be a factor as think has one season left on contract.
Also mentioned in article Chas McCormick. Dump him in off season. Along with Meyers. 3 seasons of back and forth with these two for CF or LF even. Neither has shown consistency enough to take CF which is what both have been fighting to play that spot.
BUt we shall see what comes maybe if anything before the WInter Meetings or not. Or will it go into 2025 with a lot of things.
Could they lock Bregman up quick. Or after something done as far as Soto. I know Bregman 3rd and Soto outfield. But in terms of looking for outfield help.
Will Houston try to extend Tucker this season or wait till end of season like have done with Bregman to this point.
I hope we have a fun and exciteable team next season. either way
Bregman is going to the Tigers. Book it!!!
Comerica isn’t a favorable park for Bregman’s swing but he does make sense there. I figured SF if Chapman hadn’t resigned.
He’s gone. At his age he’ll go for the biggest deal. Astros need to move on from the money he’ll probably get and put it towards Tucker and/or Framber.
Let Bregman walk, let verlander walk, let Neris walk, work hard on keeping Kikuchi, Valdez, and think about hanging on to Heyward, Graveman.
Oh, and for God’s sake trade Meyers..
With Bregman, I’m torn. On one hand, you clearly have a player on the decline and he’s turning 31 at the beginning of this deal. He wants to be paid like an MVP but he hasn’t played like one since 2019. On the other, we have no options at third. Brice Matthews just got to AAA and he’s definitely no sure thing. I wasn’t blown away by Dezenzo or Whitcomb this season either. Of course there is also the personal factors. Bregman is easily the best 3B in franchise history and a top ten-fifteen overall player in team history. It’s hard to part with that. At the end of the day, if I’m crane, I make a 6/156 offer and remind him that money goes further in Texas than in California, Mr. Chapman. If he declines, then I gave it my best effort and hope Matthews can do it.