Alex Bregman is one of the best players on the open market this offseason. The Houston Astros star brings a stellar resume into free agency. He’s earned a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award, been an all-star twice, and won the World Series twice as well. The 30-year-old has also proven he can perform well in the postseason as well. Despite only winning one gold glove, Bregman has been a good defender throughout his eight-year career. While Astros fans are begging for him to finish his career in Houston, they’re better off preparing for the inevitable. Alex Bregman will be wearing a different uniform next season.
A Solid Career So Far
Embed from Getty ImagesAlex Bregman has had a nice eight-year career. He has a career slash line of .272/.366/.483 with 191 homers, 663 RBI, and a .848 OPS. The 30-year-old has even won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award, been an all-star twice and World Series champion two times each. While Bregman has only won one Gold Glove award, the 30-year-old has proven to be a great fielder, he has +28 defensive runs saved in his career. Armed with a stellar resume, Alex Bregman is in for a nice payday this offseason.
He’ll Make More Money If He Leaves Houston
Embed from Getty ImagesThe two-time all-star is projected to earn between $150-$185 million this offseason. Bregman’s agent is the notoriously despised Scott Boras. Under owner Jim Crane, Houston has shown not to hand out those contracts. On the Astros’ current 26-man roster, the only players making above $100 million are Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve. Out of those two, Altuve is the only one making the money Bregman is projected to earn. Crane also doesn’t hand out contracts that are longer than five years. Bregman will want to be paid past his age 35 season, and Houston will most likely be unwilling to do it.
A History Of Letting Players Leave Who Are Due For Big Paydays
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Astros have let players walk in free agency who were for big paydays like Carlos Correa, Gerrit Cole, and George Springer. Bregman’s agent is also the notoriously despised Scott Boras. This means there will be no hometown discounts and Bregman will be looking to get the most money possible. All three of those players aren’t finishing their careers with Houston. If Bregman truly wanted to retire as an Astro, he wouldn’t be a Boras client.
Re-signing Bregman May Cost Them Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez
While the Astros have some tough decisions to make currently, the next offseason won’t be much easier. After the 2025 season, Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez will be free agents. If Houston re-signs Bregman, it’ll probably mean that Tucker and Valdez will be playing elsewhere in 2026. Kyle Tucker has been selected to three straight all-star games and Framber Valdez has been a great frontline starter; the Astros are better off prioritizing those two players over Alex Bregman. Valdez and Tucker also mean more to the Astros’ success than Bregman.
Other Teams Are Willing To Meet His Asking Price
Embed from Getty ImagesNone of the free-agent third basemen in this year’s class have a resume comparable to Bregman’s. There aren’t many players in today’s game who can both hit and field at an all-star level. Teams like the Mariners, Blue Jays, and Tigers need a third baseman and someone to help jumpstart their sluggish lineups. Seattle already indicated they’d be increasing their payroll, and Toronto needs to be aggressive this offseason. Unlike Houston, those teams don’t operate under the “five-year rule.” Given how poor all three teams’ offenses were in 2024, they’ll be more willing to meet Bregman’s asking price.
Astros Fans Should Start Preparing For His Departure
Embed from Getty ImagesAlex Bregman is due to have a big payday this offseason. With what he’s projected to make, Houston will most likely let him leave. Houston rarely gives out contracts longer than five years or surpasses $150 million. The two-time all-star is the best third baseman in free agency and he’ll make more money if he leaves the Astros. For Houston, bringing back Bregman might cost them Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez next offseason. Think about it, if Alex Bregman truly wanted to spend the rest of his career in Houston, Scott Boras wouldn’t be his agent. Astros fans ought to accept the reality that Alex Bregman will be playing somewhere else in 2025.
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1 Comment
Boras will allow a client to resign with a team as long as the money is right. The real nut to crack is Crane. Is he willing to move off of a five year max once Boras finds six years or more on the marketplace? Remember Boras clients have recently struggled to get off of the market before the money dried up.