On Friday, the Houston Astros made waves across Major League Baseball by signing Arizona Diamondbacks free agent Christian Walker. Walker is set to take over first base, with trade acquisition Isaac Parades manning third base. This major move appears to spell the end of Alex Bregman’s tenure in Houston.
Bregman, who transitioned to free agency after a storied career with the Astros that included 1,111 games, 191 home runs, and two World Series titles, is likely to depart. Cody Williams of FanSided also predicts that Houston will part ways with Bregman following the Walker signing. According to Spotrac, Bregman is projected to secure a $119 million contract this offseason, though the final figure could exceed that estimate significantly.
Williams highlights Bregman’s importance to the Astros’ dynasty, describing him as a cornerstone since his days at LSU. Despite early speculation about a possible reunion, Walker’s arrival seemingly closes the door on Bregman’s return. The acquisition of Isaac Parades in a trade and Jose Altuve’s entrenched position at second base further solidifies Houston’s revamped infield, leaving no space for Bregman.
While Walker’s signing signals the likely departure of Bregman, it doesn’t reflect a lack of effort on the Astros’ part to retain him. Houston reportedly made significant attempts to re-sign the two-time All-Star. Ultimately, however, Bregman is poised to join another team on a deal far richer than Walker’s, marking the end of an era for the Astros.