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Astros Expected To Present Offer To Alex Bregman In Near Future

By Anthony Franco | October 2, 2024 at 9:27pm CDT

Alex Bregman may have played his final game as an Astro on Wednesday. Detroit’s 5-2 win completed a sweep that ended Houston’s run of seven consecutive trips at least as far as the American League Championship Series. That’ll push the Astros into offseason mode, where the focus will be on their star third baseman.

Alden González of ESPN writes that the Astros are expected to present a formal contract proposal to Bregman in the near future. While Houston has yet to put an official offer on the table, general manager Dana Brown has said on a few occasions they’d discuss the contract once the season ended. Brown again expressed optimism about the situation. “When you get down to it, I think he wants to stay here. I think we want him to stay here,” the GM told González earlier this week. “And it’s just a matter of coming up with some type of an agreement.”

Coming to an agreement is naturally much easier said than done with a free agent of this caliber. Bregman is arguably the second-best position player who’ll hit the market. Unless the Scott Boras client takes a significant hometown discount, retaining him would probably require the biggest investment in franchise history. Houston’s organizational high was the five-year, $151MM extension for Jose Altuve signed in Spring Training 2018.

That $151MM sum is coincidentally an exact match for the extension which Matt Chapman signed with the Giants last month. (Chapman’s deal was over six years, so the average annual value was lower than that of the Altuve contract.) Bregman is a year younger than Chapman and a more consistent offensive player. Bregman will decline a qualifying offer if he gets to free agency. That’ll attach him to draft compensation. That wouldn’t have been the case for Chapman, who could not have received a QO from San Francisco. Still, the one-year gap in age and the safer offensive profile make it likely that Bregman’s earning power is above the Chapman price.

The career-long Astro hasn’t spoken much about his contract status. Bregman deferred offseason questions while the Astros were still alive, stating that he was focused on the team’s performance. He limited his comments mostly to generalities in the immediate aftermath of being eliminated. Asked whether he wanted to return to Houston, Bregman said he “(hopes) so but (will) let Scott and the team handle that” (X link via Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle). He subsequently took to Twitter to thank the city.

A few of Bregman’s teammates were effusive in their praise for the two-time All-Star. Altuve, himself a Boras Corporation client, was particularly strong about the Astros’ need to keep him. “In my mind there is not a chance this is his last game (as an Astro),” Altuve said (relayed on X by Chandler Rome of the Athletic). “He gave a lot to this organization so it’s time for us as an organization to pay him back and make him stay here.” Altuve added that he planned to say as much personally to owner Jim Crane.

Ultimately, whether the Astros re-sign Bregman depends on Crane’s willingness to make a huge free agent investment. The Astros were content to let George Springer and Carlos Correa walk in previous offseasons. They’re down to their final seasons of arbitration control over Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez, both of whom are trending to nine-figure deals. Tucker is on pace to exceed $200MM and could push into the $300MM range with a great walk year.

While Crane has generally been averse to long-term deals, he hasn’t been shy about investing in the team overall. Houston is finishing this year with an approximate $244MM player payroll, as calculated by RosterResource. They’re around $262MM in luxury tax obligations, putting them into the second tier of penalization.

RosterResource calculates their guaranteed commitments for next season around $133MM. Tucker and Valdez headline one of the priciest arbitration classes in the league. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects Houston’s arbitration group to cost around $58MM. Trades or non-tenders of José Urquidy and Chas McCormick could knock a few million from the ledger, but the Astros will go into the offseason with roughly $185MM in internal commitments.

Beyond the uncertainty at third base, Houston will need to look at the rotation and at first base. The latter was a huge issue all season. Houston’s rotation settled in later in the year, but they’ll see Justin Verlander and Yusei Kikuchi hit free agency. Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, Spencer Arrighetti and hopeful injury returnees Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. make for a talented group. Injuries seriously tested the depth before they stabilized things with the Kikuchi pickup at the deadline, though, so Houston is likely to bring in some kind of starting pitching help.

The Astros don’t have an obvious in-house replacement at third base. Shay Whitcomb and Zach Dezenzo took a few at-bats this season, but they’re unproven at the MLB level. 2023 first-round pick Brice Matthews could be an answer down the line. He only has 12 games of Triple-A experience thus far. Assuming the Diamondbacks pick up their option on Eugenio Suárez, there aren’t any clear regulars available at the position in free agency aside from Bregman.

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Houston Astros Newsstand Alex Bregman

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51 Comments

  1. ATinz

    8 months ago

    #cheaters

    23
    Reply
    • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

      8 months ago

      Incoming angry astros fans calling you a bum

      3
      Reply
    • BabyDegenerate

      8 months ago

      Maybe if the Astros had bought low on Stowers and Norby they would have scored more than 3 runs…

      Reply
      • thickiedon

        8 months ago

        OR they could’ve made an attempt at acquiring a defensively/offensively capable 1B

        Reply
        • BabyDegenerate

          8 months ago

          Yeah that’s true. Like most overrated Snore-ioles propsects, Stowers and Norby aren’t capable hitters or fielders

          Reply
      • NYCityRiddler

        8 months ago

        The beginning of the end is here, get the basement ready the asterisks are moving back in. Ahahahaha!

        Reply
    • ATinz

      8 months ago

      @Dasha Proof?

      2
      Reply
      • labial

        8 months ago

        Cool, Astros are still #cheaters

        5
        Reply
      • letitbelowenstein

        8 months ago

        Dasha, Cora should have been suspended longer than he was and the Red Sox were foolish to allow him to return. It was like the Sox saying “Yeah, we know he’s a cheater. But so what?”

        4
        Reply
    • AlanZ

      8 months ago

      one of 32 teams caught cheating according to Joey Votto

      2
      Reply
      • cencal

        8 months ago

        with zero proof.

        Reply
  2. Ronk325

    8 months ago

    He gone

    2
    Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      8 months ago

      Astros saw Shay Whitcomb make five errors at third base last week and said to themselves “maybe we need to extend Bregman after all.”

      Reply
  3. SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs

    8 months ago

    Bregman to the Cubs is a done deal Bob Nightingale said so

    Reply
    • Acoss1331

      8 months ago

      No thank you to that deal.

      2
      Reply
  4. CardsFan57

    8 months ago

    Gonna be an interesting offseason with so many teams up in the air on media income. Take it if they make you a decent offer Alex. Soto is going to get paid. Everyone else will be holding their breath and hoping to get paid.

    4
    Reply
    • Acoss1331

      8 months ago

      I’d throw in Corbin Burnes as well. He and Soto won’t struggle to get offers, everyone else, I agree with you about teams being hesitant this offseason.

      6
      Reply
      • Can we please get a DH?

        8 months ago

        I think Snell has reclaimed #1 SP on the market, but outside of those 3 I’d be surprised to see anyone pass $200M.

        I think there is a deep class that could/should surpass $100M though: Bregman, Alonso, Fried, and Adames with Santander, Flaherty possibly getting there too.

        Several other names who could get $20M+ AAV, but just might lack the years: Walker, Hernandez, Torres, Scherzer, Montgomery, Eovaldi, Morton, Watcha, and Severino.

        3
        Reply
        • Ranger Danger19

          8 months ago

          I can’t see Flaherty getting 100m. Not with how stingy spending is currently. Too much risk with him. Also don’t see Alonso getting that much. Maybe I’m way off but the tv money for most teams is still up in the air and I believe they will continue to act accordingly.

          2
          Reply
        • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

          8 months ago

          Tv money… ok

          Remember to never take anything with a grain of salt

          Reply
        • Gmen777

          8 months ago

          Burnes is more consistent and younger I think he gets the bigger deal but they are definitely the top 2 starters on the market

          Reply
        • Can we please get a DH?

          8 months ago

          Burnes is younger, but only has pitched 100 fewer innings in his career (and has pitched ~200 innings more over the past 3 years). He has also seen his average velocity drop and his K rate drop considerably. Snell, on the other hand, has durability concerns, but has comfortably paced the league on per inning production for the past 3 seasons. If you are looking for a Game 1 Ace, I’d take Snell.

          Reply
        • pohle

          8 months ago

          last offseason i didnt think the tv money situation would be a massive factor, but that is truly what left monty, jd, chapman and snell unsigned for so long. this offseason should be more in the direction of normal, but diamond is also dropping 11 teams and without playoff revenue those teams may take another reset year on the payroll.

          Reply
        • Gmen777

          8 months ago

          I think the top top FAs will be unaffected this off-season but I’m not sure about the middle guys like Santander and Kim

          Reply
  5. WSnotAstros2017

    8 months ago

    I truly think he may be gone. Then Houston is stuck for third base.

    Curious what options they will take for first. Seager, Alonso or is their someone else

    Outfield: Chas and Meyers need to go. IF they do non tender Urquidy and Chas which I think they should either trade or non tender. Not sure if would get anything good in a trade so would non tender be better.

    Starters why not look at Kikuchi. Is he going to be looking at a lot of money

    I know Bullpen no mention but myself Dump Pressley. I wish could dump McCullers. Doubt he will be good. Maybe a long man out of bullpen

    Curious even on Montero is he still with the team or is he considered Minor League as think still owed on him.

    Also curious with Salazar the catcher. Is he not going to see future with Houston. He has been up with team

    I am sure Espada will be back. Not sure on what his contract is or was he just for the year. Wish would find new hitting/pitching coaches and maybe medical staff. I never liked Espada being picked. I know drew interest but guess didn’t interview great or just he really didn’t want elsewhere but Houston but myself don’t have that feel with him like Hinch or even Dusty. Especially with his lineups this season.

    I dread next season if with team and Bregman gone and whomever we have at first or outfield.

    But some things curious on and such

    1
    Reply
  6. Logjammer D"Baggagecling

    8 months ago

    Whether he stays or goes. It’ll be an overpay.

    8
    Reply
    • PoisonedPens

      8 months ago

      Yeah, his numbers ended up okay but his power seems to be already on the decline.

      Reply
  7. Put John Sterling in Sarco Pod ASAP

    8 months ago

    How was this guy Juan Soto in 2018 and 2019? Similar K rate but nearly half the bb rate compared to the years after? Crazy. Shocking.

    The world may never know.

    2
    Reply
  8. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    8 months ago

    I think Bregman is the exact kind of player at the stage of career where he has managed to play his way into a 4 year/$130M to 6 year/$225M deal and any other variation in that level of deal.

    And whatever it winds up being, it’s gonna be an albatross, where he’s a big shiny new contract and by year two they’re already talking about how they’re gonna platoon him and get him as much rest time as possible and switch him to less taxing, less vital positions and by year 3 or 4 some other player will have unofficially replaced his role entirely on that team, while he gets paid $35M a year to be irrelevant or a bench player “veteran clubhouse presence” for 2-4 years and $70-$150M in sunk cost.

    1
    Reply
    • tigerfan1968

      8 months ago

      teams are slowly getting smarter… too slow but it is happening..
      Tigers learned… OK so Baez getting 25 million. BUT all the position players that played yesterday for Detroit to eliminate Astros COMBINED make less that 15 million… Oh by the way Tiger stadium is selling out.

      Reply
      • Assdribble_Cabrera

        8 months ago

        Impossible. Tiger Stadium no longer exists.

        3
        Reply
    • Canuckleball

      8 months ago

      @TrillionaireTeamOperator

      Funny/sad thing is, that’s an accurate description for the contract given to one of his former teammates, George Springer.

      1
      Reply
  9. mrkinsm

    8 months ago

    6 years and 200 million $

    Reply
    • labial

      8 months ago

      Gross

      2
      Reply
  10. Ma4170

    8 months ago

    I’m just not seeing a contract for bregman that some are projecting. I cant see more than 6-160, but maybe im way off.

    3
    Reply
  11. AlanZ

    8 months ago

    he will be looking for years more than money, the team willing to offer him 8 years will get him. If no one wants to step up then the Astros should get him for 6 years

    Reply
  12. nosake

    8 months ago

    Get rid of BOTH SAVERS

    Reply
  13. Ranger Danger19

    8 months ago

    Trashcans should pass. Resign Verlander and bring in Scherzer

    1
    Reply
  14. Badtakesonly

    8 months ago

    I think they should let him walk honestly. The true problem with the Astros is their offensive approach IMO. I can’t tell you how many times I watched the Astros bat and be so over-aggressive and bounce into ground outs or pop out on the infield, they made pitchers with an ERA the size of Alaska looks like a CY contender. If they could cash in on RISP even a fraction more than they did this season, the bullpen wouldn’t have been so taxed. I think Pressly is cooked though tbh. Tucker has also yet to show me anything in the post season besides game 1 against the Phillies in 2022, which they lost anyway. I doubt the Astros front office would do it, but trading Tucker would bring a solid haul of prospects back to replenish the farm a bit. That’s my bad take for the day.

    1
    Reply
    • Canuckleball

      8 months ago

      The Astros were 7th in the majors in batting average with runners in scoring position, and 3rd in the AL. (.267)

      It may have seemed bad to you as a fan watching, but they actually were pretty good compared to others this year. Offense league wide was down this year.

      Arizona was the best at .285, while the Rays were the worst at .212, for comparison.

      1
      Reply
      • thickiedon

        8 months ago

        Maybe batting the typical clean up hitters #2 could have something to do with it. I don’t know. I just find the recent trend of batting your best hitter #2 is odd

        Reply
  15. Badtakesonly

    8 months ago

    It’s all simply the eye test. Yes, the numbers looked good, and at times it seemed they had things on track. Just as an everyday fan, you notice the patterns of how the losses happen consistently. I think the clutch factor and timely hitting just wasn’t there when we needed it. Doesn’t help they were awful in extra inning and one run games going into late innings. All in all, I agree with your points, I’m just frustrated, lol. Watched the same loss like 25 times this season.

    Reply
  16. BPax

    8 months ago

    They had six players on the PCL all-star team. Help is apparently on the way.

    Reply
  17. whyhayzee

    8 months ago

    The $60 Trillion Yankees can’t beat the Astros but the $1.50 Tigers can. Pfft.

    Reply
  18. ManfredIsAJoke

    8 months ago

    Of course he isn’t leaving his daddies, he’ll stay with the cheaters until the bitter end. And let’s hope yesterday represents the start of said bitter end. Bye bye, losers, hope you enjoyed losing to AJ Hinch.

    Reply
  19. Captainmike1

    8 months ago

    Already made over 100 million dollars
    They should not overpay him in his declining years
    Don’t make another Miquel Cabrera mistake giving him a massive deal for not performing in his later years

    Reply
  20. Kevin Illyanovich Rasputin Kubusheskie

    8 months ago

    ESPN has a story that Altuve wants the Asterisks to keep bregman. Of course! Cheaters got each others’ backs. Maybe Buzzer Boy Jose just doesn’t want to be the only one taking well earned boos on the team! The Cheater Stands Alone. Hi Ho The Derry-O!

    Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      8 months ago

      Jose didn’t necessarily cheat. He just shy

      Reply
  21. MrLOLMet

    8 months ago

    Alex Bugman a Boras client expected to sign after spring training and have a mediocre season

    1
    Reply
  22. CO Guardening

    8 months ago

    Hometown discount with the Albuquerque Isotopes?

    Reply
  23. Dumpster Divin Theo

    8 months ago

    Baseball peeps would like to present Bregmam with pie in face.

    Reply

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