The Astros overcame a slow start to pull away with another division title. They weren't able to extend their remarkable streak of seven consecutive trips to the AL Championship Series, as the red-hot Tigers swept them at Minute Maid Park. The attention immediately turns to the potential loss of their longtime third baseman.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Jose Altuve, 2B: $110MM through 2029
- Yordan Alvarez, DH: $93MM through 2028
- Josh Hader, LHP: $76MM through 2028
- Cristian Javier, RHP: $52MM through 2027
- Lance McCullers Jr., RHP: $34MM through 2026
- Ryan Pressly, RHP: $14MM through 2025
- Rafael Montero, RHP (no longer on 40-man roster): $11.5MM through 2025
- Victor Caratini, C: $6MM through 2025
Additional financial commitments
- Owe released first baseman José Abreu $19.5MM through 2025
2025 financial commitments: $142MM
Total future commitments: $416MM
Option Decisions
- RHP Ryan Pressly vested $14MM option by reaching 110 appearances between 2023-24
Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections via Matt Swartz)
- Framber Valdez (5.163): $17.8MM
- Kyle Tucker (5.079): $15.8MM
- José Urquidy (5.049): $3.75MM
- Mauricio Dubón (4.162): $4.6MM
- Luis Garcia (4.083): $1.875MM
- Bryan Abreu (4.022): $3.7MM
- Chas McCormick (4.000): $3.3MM
- Jake Meyers (3.044): $2.2MM
- Jeremy Peña (3.000): $4.4MM
- Penn Murfee (2.169): $800K
Non-tender candidates: Urquidy, McCormick, Murfee
Free Agents
- Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander, Yusei Kikuchi, Caleb Ferguson, Ben Gamel, Héctor Neris, Jason Heyward, Kendall Graveman
The Astros remain firmly in win-now mode but are facing the potential free agent departure of a core player. That's a situation they've successfully navigated before. Houston has allowed Carlos Correa and George Springer to walk without taking a step back. Are they prepared to do the same with Alex Bregman?
That's the biggest question of Houston's offseason. General manager Dana Brown has said time and again that he hopes to keep Bregman. Multiple Astros players have gone on record talking about his importance both on the field and in the clubhouse. The financial picture doesn't point toward a reunion being likely, though.
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I could definitely see the Astros pursuing Goldschmidt. I do wonder how much teams will be willing to splurge on Bregman; if nothing else, the Astros will at least wait out the market on him.
I would love to see Goldy back in Texas! He would fit in nicely at 1B for the Astros. Pressley NEEDS to be traded. Package him with Meyers and maybe McCormick and send them packing. Unloading Pressley’s contract should be a top priority.
Goldschmidt, really
2023 & 2024 show he’s clearly on the decline. But if he at least maintains his 2024 value, he’s better than what Houston ran out there this year (no slight to Abreu intended- awesome career).
Good third baseman are not really in short supply right now. There was a time when if you got a good one at the hot corner, you had a huge advantage over other team. Like the Phillies with Mike Schmidt or the Orioles with Brooks Robinson. But now there are no third basemen that are head and shoulders above the rest, but there are many third basemen that are more than good enough to be starters.
I’m pretty sure they could get Arenado from St Louis for cheap as the Cards seem ready to turn the page. If they want to go younger, It’s possible they could get Ryan McMahon or KeBryan Hayes in a trade. The Orioles also seem to have an abundance of infielders, perhaps could pick one of the guys left without a chair there like Ramon Urias. If they are interested in a bounceback FA, there is Yoan Moncada or Gio Urshela on the market.
Sure none of those guys are quite Bregman, but the step down is not really THAT bad dollar for dollar. They could use the savings to re-sign Kikuchi and perhaps another SP. That would help them remain on top far more than resigning Bregman would.
FanGraphs has Bregman ranked 11th (amongst third baseman) in overall value in 2024, but the possible replacements you mention are significantly less valuable to a team than he is.
Somewhere in the midwest jose Ramirez sighs in resignation. Overlooked again the poor guy!
I didn’t mention Ramirez because I didn’t think there was any chance Cleveland would give him up, not because I overlooked him. I think Ramirez might be the #1 3B in the game. At worst #2.
On that contract, he is absolutely not available. He is probably the most valuable player in baseball in terms of contract versus output.
Bohm trade to Houston?
Who would replace him in Philly? Bregman?
Yeah. Good question. Willy Adames for $200 million. I kid. I kid. Stupid money. I am wondering if the Bohm Philly relationship is tenable anymore. What do they do?
And that is a big NO THANK YOU.
What would it take to acquire Arenado? St. Louis could embark on a youth movement this offseason. Would Cards take on a quarter of remaining contract? Arenado fills the need at 3B next year allowing Matthews time to develop and for 2026-26 Arenado slides to 1B?
Why not just sign your homegrown talent that has helped get you to the postseason every year if you want to pay that much for a 3b?
It takes two to tango. Bregman would have to want to re-sign as well. Plus, if you believe you have a long term replacement in the minors already you might not want a guy signed for as long as Bregman is likely to want.
What will Houston do in outfield. Meyers still CF. Chas May non tendered. Is Tucker safe. Whitcomb and Dezenzo not sure on them. Matthews not enough AAA. LF for Houston. Dubon not a true starter. Wondering what first will look like. Yes Bregman it will sting if does walk. Yes his offense has gone down since 2019 but still has something. Where might end up. . .
Trade Framber. Sign Bregman.
Trade Pressly…he makes WAY too much to be an 8th inning guy. Send him out with Montero and one of McCormick or Meyers for anyone serviceable.
I would like the Astros to sign Anthony Santander to play left field.
I really think Houston and Colorado can hook up on a Kris Bryant trade. The Rockies could take back dead money in McCullers and Montero and add a young controllable outfielder like Sean Bouchard or Jordan Beck or even Nolan Jones. Just the framework for a deal. I’m sure other pieces could be added on one or both sides, but it just seems like a fit.
I really think that KB is untradeable at this point in time. They owe him over 100 million and not only is he very frequently injured, he has played very poorly when he has been on the field over the last 2 years. Unless the Rockies eat 90% of the remaining money (they won’t), nobody would take him
He probably is not going to be traded, but it won’t stop me from hoping and trying. But I firmly believe there is no such thing as an untradeable player in MLB. If you take back enough of a bad deal or attach enough prospects, anyone can be dealt.
I agree. I do not mean untradeable in a literal sense. Just that his value is so low, he is so expensive, and executives/owners seem unable to see a sunk cost for what it is, that he is extremely unlikely to be moved
Yeah this would definitely be his career low when it comes to trade value. Even so, I think it would be better for everyone, including Bryant, if he were playing elsewhere in 2025. Even if the Rockies get virtually nothing for him, I think it could be an addition by subtraction.
His game is just not tailored to Coors Field as weird as that sounds. The balls that hit hit for homers in Wrigley are now warning track outs in Coors. Coors is great for hitters EXCEPT those that tend to hit wall scraper homers in other parks. Those are outs at Coors and Bryant has hit far more of them in the past 3 years than I care to remember. he is still a good hitter, he just isn’t a Coors hitter.
I think the Astros re-sign Bregman, unless the market goes insane for him. He is too much of a fan favorite in Houston, so if he will sign to 5 or 6 year deal, and not some 7 or 8 year deal, he is staying,
There is no way they will pay for what Tucker will get, so he is good as gone after next season. Valdez is a top regular season pitcher, but you can’t count on him in the playoffs. Therefore, he is not a player you want to extend to a big contract. Thus, I hope Crane ( Astros owner) and Brown (Astros GM) know the above to be true, and trade them both this off-season.
The Astros need to retool, so trading away Tucker and Valdez, both pending next off-season FAs, makes a lot of sense for the team. Hopefully, in the trades the Astros land their future replacements (top-end major league prospects). In the meantime, the Astros can sign older vets on 1-2 year deals that can ease the transition between Tucker and Valdez and their successors.
Some months ago I was all for letting Bregman walk, but I have reconsidered that position.
I believe they should do the following;
Sign Bregman
Sign Kikuchi
Sign Heyward
Let Verlander walk
Trade Tucker
Trade Pena
Trade Meyers
Use the above 3 trades to fill the gaping hole that is 1st base and add another outfielder who can actually hit.
My logic is that Tucker’s bat goes missing every post season and his outfield work, whilst solid, can be replaced.
Pena is useless at the plate and one of the worst fielding shortstops in the game. Ranks #5 in all of baseball for fielding errors. (All positions)
Meyers is also useless at the plate and despite his reputation, nothing that cannot be replaced in the outfield.
Concur on bringing back Kikuchi and J-Hey.
If Teoscar becomes available and Dana can acquire his services i can definitely see us pushing Meyers/Chas as trade bait to bolster the farm.
Will the real Jeremy pena please stand up? glad I’m not the only one seeing the regression. i’d rather go with dubi and trade JP if the 25 version is a repeat of 23/24.
as for framber… mid-season trade for sure!!
Whatever you do, Houston, don’t forget to fire Pressly and Hader before you turn out the lights. I can’t imagine what prompted management to make such poor closing pitcher decisions. And neither of them show a thread of remorse about their delivery,
I still would rather have Yuli than Singleton. I wouldn’t want Singleton on the roster. unless absolutely necessary. Yuli’s clubhouse presence makes him more valuable than Singleton, even though Yuli is more valuable at the plate and in the field.
not 100 percent ready to hot the ship button on big Jon.. results were positive when consistent play was provided. 1B is his to lose come the end of ST.