Some players become so synonymous with a team that it’s hard to picture them anywhere else—Alex Bregman is one of those players. A two-time All-Star, Bregman has been a key part of the Houston Astros since 2016, but there’s now uncertainty about whether the team will re-sign him this offseason.
Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, took aim at the Astros on Monday for the stalled contract negotiations, speaking through The Athletic’s Chandler Rome. “Over time, teams learn if you’re running from leadership and talent, you’re running from the ultimate goal,” Boras declared.
The Astros reportedly offered Bregman a six-year, $156 million deal, a substantial offer by owner Jim Crane’s standards, as he’s never guaranteed more than $151 million or given a contract longer than six years.
Despite this, Boras and Bregman appear unsatisfied, and they are within their rights to seek a larger deal. As a two-time World Series champion and cornerstone player for nearly a decade, Bregman has earned the leverage to ask for more.
While Houston is reluctant to let Bregman go, the team has prepared for that possibility. On December 13, they acquired third baseman Isaac Paredes from the Chicago Cubs as part of the trade for star outfielder Kyle Tucker. General manager Dana Brown acknowledged that the Astros didn’t want to be held hostage by Bregman’s camp.
“I won’t get into specifics, but I feel like the negotiations stalled,” Brown said. “I feel like we made a really competitive offer and showed that we wanted him back. But we had to pursue other options. We couldn’t just sit there.”
If Bregman does depart, it will undoubtedly be tough for longtime teammates like Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez. However, as Brown pointed out, baseball is a business, and the team must move forward.
“I think the team understands that we made him a competitive offer,” Brown continued. “I really think the guys in that clubhouse understand that. Look, this is a business as well. We worked to be competitive. We owe it to the team to pursue other options when things stall. We feel like we’re still a really good team with these additions this offseason.”
With Paredes and newly signed first baseman Christian Walker joining Houston’s established core, the Astros will remain competitive, even without Bregman. However, life without the fan favorite would undoubtedly be an adjustment for both the team and its supporters.
