The Astros have made no secret about their hope of retaining Alex Bregman. General manager Dana Brown reiterated that optimism when speaking with reporters at the GM Meetings this afternoon.
“Our biggest priority is third base, without a doubt. We’d love to have Alex Bregman back. It’s our biggest priority,” Brown said (links via Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle and Chandler Rome of the Athletic). The GM added that the Astros have had “productive conversations” with the Boras Corporation, though he didn’t elaborate on the status of talks or specify whether the team has actually made an offer. ESPN’s Alden González wrote in early October that Houston was preparing to do so in the near future.
The Astros don’t have many options to step in at third base if Bregman walks. Re-signing him will almost certainly require the biggest investment in franchise history, though, which casts real doubt about whether they’ll be able to get anything done. Brown himself acknowledged a few weeks ago that the team may need to be “creative” in managing payroll. The Astros haven’t gone beyond six years under owner Jim Crane. Bregman would probably require breaking that precedent. MLBTR predicted a seven-year, $182MM deal in ranking him as the offseason’s #3 free agent.
Brown suggested the Astros were open to going beyond six years in the right circumstances, though it’s clear the organization tends to shy away from those contracts. “I don’t think we’re going to be in the business of giving multiple seven-year deals or multiple eight-year deals. But if there’s an opportunity to sign a guy that we feel is going to be good for six or seven years, I think Jim would do it,” the GM said.
Houston faces questions in the opposite corner infield spot. First base was an issue all season. The Astros pulled the plug on the ill-fated José Abreu deal a few months into the year, but Jon Singleton didn’t perform well either. Brown acknowledged the team needed better production at that spot. It’s unclear whether they’re willing to go back into free agency for someone like Christian Walker, Paul Goldschmidt or Anthony Rizzo as they remain on the hook for the final season of the Abreu deal.
Brown pointed to Zach Dezenzo as a potential internal option. The 24-year-old hit well in a small sample in Triple-A. That didn’t translate in an even briefer MLB look. Dezenzo slumped to a .242/.277/.371 slash over his first 19 MLB contests. He’s a career .295/.377/.499 hitter over parts of three seasons in the minors. Dezenzo has experience at both corner infield spots and could factor into the third base mix if Bregman walks, though he’s probably a better defensive fit at first.
Turning to the outfield, Brown indicated the Astros planned to tender an arbitration contract to Chas McCormick (X link with video from Ari Alexander of KPRC 2). The right-handed hitter had a rough season, hitting .211/.271/.306 in 94 games. McCormick had posted very strong numbers through his first three big league campaigns, so it’s not much of a surprise that Houston plans to bring him back on a relatively modest salary. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a $3.3MM sum. Brown added that the Astros could look for a left-handed hitting outfielder to potentially spell McCormick (and presumably Jake Meyers) against righty pitching.
Dezenzo seems more likely to break out later or by ’26. There are things to work out as he transitions from AAA. So they need a 3B solution, at least for the short term.
Well, with Bergman’s decline, he should be done by 26 so there ya go…
Dezenzo ,Chas and Meyers are all mistakes.Again you will be crying that we have no outfield with Center or left. Alvarez is no great outfielder. Meyers is only good for the ninth. Sort of close the game for defense. He has no offense. Myself should non tendered Chas. This Trammel guy is a joke. Minor leaguer at best. Dezenzo his numbers are minor league. It does not translate to big league.. What on Whitcomb. Could have tried with Gamel even. Would have fit for outfield better. Sorry Imwill not be going to games anymore. Cancelled my season tickets. Fall from grace back to 100 losses. I think Seattle picks up next season. Astros will be a joke.
Alvarez is a good LF though as long as 1/3 of his games he’s DH
He’s really not. He’s playable and has a great accurate arm but doesn’t have great range or read the ball off the bat well.
He tries hard and is certainly not as bad as some, but I would not say he’s good.
And he’s fragile and too valuable to risk inury so should play less than 25% if possible.
We forgetting about Kyle Tucker heard he was pretty good
I think Chas is worth the risk and they can DFA him if it doesn’t work. I’d like to see a one year deal for Goldschmidt. As much as I love Bregman, I’d rather he walk if the contract is too big.
This is more on Bregman? Sounds like best offer will not be from Houston. Stay with what’s familiar at a home team discount or venture onward?
Naw, go take the money !
ESPN projects his salary to be an valuation of 31.5 million….a WHOLE million more than he made in 2024. Astros can EASILY sign him and should.
Bregman made 20mil in 2024, 11.5mil less than the valuation, and now he wants a 7 or 8 year deal at age 31. I love the guy, but anything more than 5-6 years will be an eventual Pujols situation.
I kinda like MLB Rumors projection from Bregman—it would be a pay cut for him, so an even easier signing by the Astros. Seven years at 182 million is 26 million a year, saving the club 4.5 million a year. Easy Yes.
In stead of giving Bregman 30mil they should let him walk. Sign Josh bell, kikuichi, Gibson, Kepler. Take McCormick and a prospect or 2 send them to PIT for Hayes or STL for Gorman
I’d rather have the prospects for Gorman ya’ll keep Chas.
Love the guy. Streaky bat and balky elbow. Proceed with caution and club options. Nobody works harder to be a good teammate/ballplayer. Creative deferrals worked in LA
No mention of Breggy’s elbow. The salary projections apply if completely healthy or if a few weeks of rest is the remedy needed. Framber had his elbow issue earlier this year but fortunately a couple of weeks on the IL in April was adequate for recovery.
If Alex does need more intensive treatment, he may be better off taking the QO and getting a surgery this offseason. Otherwise he stands to fail a physical and end up choosing from low guarantees..
Would love for Bregman to be a Nat.
I have heard they offered him 6 yrs / $156M.
It’s from multiple insiders anonymously and of course it’s not been made public.
In the end I think he gets a bigger offer and they go up to 7 yrs and approach $200M.
They won’t go over 7 or $200M though.
For 3 years, I have been saying 7/$182M (Kris Bryant deal) is what he will get.
I hope it’s with Houston.
They’ve done well without Correa and Springer. Let him chase his bag and grow older for another team. There are capable placeholders until Brice Mathews receives the call.
This is a different scenario than Springer or Correa.
1) the overall team depth was better, so losing one player was not as big of an Impact.
2) They had players MLB ready to step in. Dezenzo and Matthews have very little seasoning at AAA. Whitcomb simply doesn’t have the glove to play 3b at the MLB level.
3) Springer due to grievance and Correa due to ego/ambition were never going to return to Houston. Bregman wants to stay and there is an opportunity.
4) Alex means more to this team than any previous player, who moved on, has. He is a leader, he helps the pitchers improve, he is better than average in all aspects of the game (even his baserunning decisions are good eventhough he is very slow).
There has not been a player on the Astros the last 20 years that impacted the team more by leaving, than Bregman will.
I still would not give Jim over 7 years or $200M but I would go more than most.
Ohtani contract. Why not….give him 2m a year then pay him a post career pot load of cash. Play by the new rules.