Houston Astros

While most signs point to Alex Bregman joining a new club this offseason, he reportedly could be back in Houston next year.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Astros "are keeping the door ajar for" Bregman to return to Houston. Nightengale noted that if Bregman returns, the Astros could shift Isaac Paredes to second base while moving Jose Altuve to left field.

The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported that the Astros and Bregman re-engaged in contract talks this week.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman later reported the Chicago Cubs are believed to have interest in Bregman:

Bregman reportedly declined a six-year deal worth around $156 million from the Astros earlier this offseason and that contract is still "on the table" according to Rome. Bregman is believed to be seeking a deal closer to $200 million. That figure might be too much for Houston to fork over, as the biggest contract the Astros have ever given was Jose Altuve's five-year, $151 million extension in 2018.

The Astros also added to their infield earlier this offseason when they signed Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million deal, so they aren't exactly desperate to bring back Bregman.

As Nightengale noted, Bregman has generated interest from several teams, including the Detroit Tigers. The Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold reported last week that the Tigers "remain interested" in Bregman, though contract talks between the two sides "are at a standstill."

Petzold also reported that Bregman has garnered interest from the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

With other teams getting in the mix, the Astros will likely have to act soon to get Bregman back to Houston next season. While they could likely still field a competitive roster without Bregman, he's been a staple of their squad for nearly a decade, helping them win a pair of World Series in 2017 and 2022.

The 30-year-old slashed .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI in 2024. He's one of the best free agents remaining this offseason and his market should only heat up in the months leading up to spring training.

Starting pitcher Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros agreed to a one-year, $18 million contract to avoid arbitration on Thursday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Valdez is in his final year of arbitration, meaning that he'll enter free agency at the end of the 2025 season.

Chandler Rome of The Athletic initially reported on Dec. 9 that the Astros were open to trading the 31-year-old before arbitration, but a deal never materialized.

Dana Brown, Houston's general manager, confirmed that the team was listening to offers but didn't believe that a trade would occur.

"If you're asking me if (I) think we're going to trade Valdez, I don't think we're going to trade Valdez," Brown said on Dec. 13, via Rome. "I think he's a pillar and it's really tough to keep a rotation intact."

The left-hander has developed into a key starter for the Astros, earning All-Star nods in 2022 and 2023 before finishing No. 7 in 2024 American League Cy Young Award voting.

In 28 starts last season, Valdez finished with a 15-7 record and a 2.91 ERA to go along with a career-best 1.106 WHIP. He racked up 169 strikeouts and 55 walks in 176.1 innings of work.

He particularly excelled down the stretch of the season, posting a 1.96 ERA in 12 starts following the All-Star break.

Valdez has spent all seven years of his career in Houston. He's been relatively durable despite a brief appearance on the injured list in April 2024 due to elbow issues, making at least 30 starts in each of the prior two seasons.

He'll be back with the Astros in 2025 as they attempt to earn a fifth consecutive AL West title, but he should receive plenty of interest once he hits free agency at the end of the year.

The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers "remain interested" in signing free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported.

Feinsand noted that it is not clear that the Tigers "will be willing to give Bregman the type of deal he is seeking," while Boston's pursuit could be complicated by its crowded infield.

The Houston Astros previously offered Bregman a six-year, $156 million contract that he turned down in search of a $200 million deal, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.

The Astros have since stocked their infield by signing first baseman Christian Walker and acquiring third baseman Isaac Paredes from the Chicago Cubs, indicating that offer may no longer be on the table.

The New York Yankees have also previously been tied to Bregman, but the New York Post's Jon Heyman recently reported that people around the team "question whether Yankee Stadium is right for him."

In nine seasons with the Astros Bregman had recorded 210 total home runs, only 153 of which would have counted in lefty-friendly Yankee Stadium (h/t Baseball Savant.)

That could open the field for the Tigers to make a bid for Bregman, although the signing could require a major jump in Detroit's payroll.

The franchise is currently set to rank among the lowest-spending teams in the MLB next season with a projected 2025 payroll of under $80 million, per Spotrac, and owner Christopher Ilitch may not be inclined to change that after the Tigers made the 2024 postseason with a similarly inexpensive roster.

The Red Sox would meanwhile need to make a decision regarding first baseman Triston Casas before acquiring Bregman, as noted by Feinsand.

The franchise attempted to trade Casas earlier this season, per MLB.com's Daniel Kramer, but MassLive's Chris Cotillo recently reported his belief that the franchise is more likely to hang on to Casas following their signing of Walker Buehler.

Casas staying means Bregman may have to slide to second base, with Rafael Devers moving to first, in order to fit into the Boston infield.

Bregman slashed .260/.315/.453 with 75 RBI for the Astros last season. Although Baseball Savant projects his home run totals taking similar dips in Boston or Detroit, he would still offer an offensive boost to either team should they find a spot for him on their infield and payroll.

An Alex Bregman signing for the New York Yankees may be doomed by a lack of a proper fit.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that while the team likes his makeup, the it has questions about his fit at Yankee Stadium and the potential for D.J. LeMahieu to fill the role Bregman would occupy.

"Yankees people love Alex Bregman but question whether Yankee Stadium is right for him," Heyman wrote. "It's possible they hope D.J. LeMahieu can regain health to fill 3B."

Bregman is currently a free agent after spending the first nine seasons of his career with the Houston Astros. He helped lead Houston to two World Series titles and was a two-time All-Star and also took home a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award.

He hit .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs and 75 RBIs in 145 games in 2024. The Astros traded for third baseman Isaac Paredes and signed first baseman Christian Walker, so a return for Bregman does not appear to be likely.

The Yankees lost star outfielder Juan Soto but have added southpaw Max Fried, outfielder Cody Bellinger and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Bregman could be another splashy move to help the team's chances at returning to the World Series but the presence of LeMahieu as well as Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Oswaldo Cabrera may make a Bregman signing redundant.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown revealed that discussions with free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman were at a standstill, which led to the team exploring other options.

"I won't get into specifics but I feel like the negotiations stalled," Brown said on Monday, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. "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."

On Dec. 13, the Astros traded outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for a package that included third baseman Isaac Paredes. The team subsequently signed first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million contract.

Paredes and Walker are both set to receive starting infield positions in 2025, drastically decreasing the likelihood of a return for Bregman.

"I won't get into anymore but to say Paredes is going to play third and Walker is going to play first," Brown said, via Rome.

Houston also reportedly pursued St. Louis Cardinals star third baseman Nolan Arenado on the trade market, but the deal couldn't be completed after Arenado refused to waive his no-trade clause.

Bregman spent each of the first nine years of his career with the Astros, making two All-Star appearances and winning a pair of World Series titles. He holds the No. 6 spot on Houston's all-time home runs leaderboard and ranks No. 9 on the team's all-time RBIs list.

In 2024, he hit .260 with 26 homers and 75 RBIs despite posting a career-low .768 OPS.

The length of a potential new contract may have been the sticking point in talks between both sides, as ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that the Astros didn't "want to stretch" their offer to Bregman any longer than six years.

While Houston may no longer be an option, it shouldn't be too difficult for the 30-year-old to find a new home in free agency. The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays have all been linked to Bregman by MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Meanwhile, the Astros appear to be content with moving forward with Paredes and Walker at the corners.

Having been one of the best all-around first baseman in MLB for the past three seasons, Christian Walker has cashed in with a deal from the Houston Astros.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand first reported the two sides agreed to terms. USA Today's Bob Nightengale added it's a three-year deal worth $60 million.

It took a long time for Walker to finally get an extended look in the big leagues. He was originally a fourth-round draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012, but he only appeared in 13 MLB games before being waived before the start of spring training in 2017.

The Cincinnati Reds claimed Walker off waivers in March 2017, but he was waived by the club a few weeks later. The Arizona Diamondbacks added him to their roster, starting him out in Triple-A.

After trading Paul Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals in December 2018, Walker became Arizona's starting first baseman in 2019. He had a breakout season with a .259/.348/.476 slash line and 29 homers in 152 games.

Since the start of the 2022 season, Walker's average year has seen him hit .250/.332/.481 with 32 homers and 94 RBI. He has won three straight Gold Glove awards from 2022 to '24 and finished 23rd in NL MVP voting in 2023.

Walker is one of four first baseman who has been worth at least 10 FanGraphs' wins above replacement over the past three seasons (10.4). He ranks behind only Freddie Freeman (18.6), Matt Olson (12.3) and Goldschmidt (10.6).

Despite being an older free agent—he will turn 34 on March 28—Walker's all-around ability should allow him to age more gracefully than a traditional power-first hitter at first base.

Given how difficult it can be to find quality power hitters at a relatively affordable cost on the open market, Walker is a great addition for the Astros in their quest to make the playoffs in 2025.

The Astros are an impossible team to figure out. Trading Kyle Tucker while Alex Bregman remains a free agent would suggest they are planning to take a step back in 2025.

Instead, the move to sign Walker at least swings the pendulum back in favor of planning to compete next season. It also comes after they tried to trade for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, but he invoked his no-trade clause to block the move.

Whatever the big-picture plan is in Houston, Walker absolutely fills a huge need for the team next season. Jon Singleton, who hit .234/.321/.386 with 13 homers in 2024, was penciled in as the starting first baseman.

Astros manager Joe Espada can plug Walker into the No. 4 spot in the lineup, behind Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes and Yordan Alvarez. That's a very good quartet at the top of the order with all four players having an on-base percentage of at least .335 last season.

Paredes and Walker could see a spike in their power playing home games in Houston with the Crawford Boxes in left field being just 315 feet away from home plate.

Despite an unusual approach to roster-building this offseason, the Astros still look formidable on paper. They should be favored to win the AL West for the fifth consecutive year.

Among the many indications that have made it apparent Alex Bregman is unlikely to return to the Houston Astros is the team's unwillingness to be flexible with their contract offer to the two-time All-Star.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Astros "don't want to stretch" their offer to Bregman beyond six years.

MLB.com's Brian McTaggart noted on Dec. 13 that Houston's formal offer to the star third baseman is for roughly $156 million over six years.

While that would be the richest contract by total value in Astros history, it seems like a lower offer than Bregman will end up getting on the open market. Passan noted he could end up signing for around $200 million.

Houston seems to be making moves with an eye toward not having Bregman on the roster. The team acquired Isaac Paredes, whose primary position is third base, from the Chicago Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade.

The Astros also tried to make a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals for Nolan Arenado, but he used his no-trade clause to block the move, per McTaggart, Mark Feinsand, John Denton.

MLB.com's report noted talks between the Astros and Cardinals are "ongoing," but the Astros aren't optimistic about Arenado changing his mind.

Even though Bregman has been a staple of Houston's lineup during the most successful period in franchise history, not wanting to budge on its six-year offer isn't necessarily a bad move.

Bregman's offensive production has been trending downward recently. He is hitting .261/.341/.446 since the start of the 2023 season after posting a .277/.375/.497 slash line.

This isn't to say that Bregman won't continue to be a good player for the next few years, but there are indications he may be entering the downside of his peak.

Trading away Tucker when he was still under team control for one more year may have been an indication the Astros might be starting to turn the page on this most recent era and start building toward whatever the next great version of this roster will look like.

Having traded Kyle Tucker and faced with the prospect of losing Alex Bregman in free agency, the Houston Astros have entered the Nolan Arenado sweepstakes.

Per The Athletic's Chandler Rome, the Astros have emerged as a "serious suitor" for the St. Louis Cardinals' 10-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman.

Chandler noted that no deal is considered imminent, but talks between the Astros and Cardinals have increased since the winter meetings ended on Thursday.

Houston dealt Tucker to the Chicago Cubs for Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith on Friday.

The Tucker trade seemed to signal the end of Bregman's time in Houston because Paredes has primarily played third base throughout his MLB career, though he's also got more than 50 games of experience at first and second base.

Houston's last known offer to Bregman was a five-year deal worth around $156 million, per MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. That would seem to be below what he is expecting to sign for, though it would be the richest contract the Astros have ever given out.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel projected Bregman would sign for $187 million over six years before free agency began. The average annual value of that projection and Houston's offer are very similar, but the total value is well above what Houston is offering.

Bregman's leverage has likely increased now that he is the best remaining position player on the market after Juan Soto and Willy Adames signed.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters on Monday that he is intending to try trading Arenado as the team enters what they are describing as a "reset" in 2025.

An Arenado trade to Houston would be complicated because he has a full no-trade clause. He has reportedly given the Cardinals a list of six teams he would approve a deal to, but the Astros aren't among that group.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox are the teams Arenado would prefer to play for.

If the Cardinals could convince Arenado to accept a deal to Houston, Paredes might be a player they have interest in acquiring. He will turn 26 on Feb. 18 and has three years of team control remaining before hitting free agency after the 2027 season.

Arenado hit .272/.325/.394 with 16 homers and 71 RBI in 152 games for the Cardinals last season.

The New York Yankees have "real" interest in signing free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

Bregman earned his first Gold Glove with the Houston Astros in 2024 after leading AL third baseman with a .972 fielding percentage.

The Astros have already offered Bregman a six-year deal worth approximately $156 million to return to Houston, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart previously reported.

DJ LeMahieu began the season at third base but batted just .183 through 41 games before getting moved from the position in late July.

At that point, the Yankees had just acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr., a former second baseman turned outfielder, in a midseason trade from the Miami Marlins.

Chisholm played third base for the first time in his MLB career in his second game with the Yankees. He ended up remaining in the position for the rest of the season.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has said he would be "more than comfortable" heading into the 2025 season with Chisholm remaining at third base.

But the ideal outcome for the Yankees would likely be acquiring an experienced third baseman, allowing Chisholm to slide back to second base and therefore filling the infield gap left behind by the potential departure of Gleyber Torres in free agency.

There is some history between the Yankees and Bregman, who was a key member of the 2017 Astros team that eliminated New York from the ALCS and was later penalized by MLB for sign-stealing. Bregman's connection to that team "would not stop the Yankees from pursuing him," sources told MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

Another potential option for the Yankees' third base needs could be St. Louis Cardinals star Nolan Arenado, although the team is not on the list of six finalists Arenado would be willing to waive his no-trade clause for, according to MLB.com's John Denton.

The Houston Astros are discussing trading Kyle Tucker to the New York Yankees in exchange for AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman.

The Astros are also talking over a potential Tucker trade with the Chicago Cubs that would involve Seiya Suzuki and Isaac Paredes, per Heyman.

Tucker has one year left under arbitration on his expiring contract. He missed three months with a shin injury last season but still recorded 23 home runs and 49 RBI in 78 games for the Astros. Spotrac projects him to receive $16.7 million next season.

Gil meanwhile became the first Yankees player since Aaron Judge to earn a ROY nod by recording a 15-7 record and 3.50 ERA in 29 starts. He allowed 104 hits and 77 walks while striking out 171 batters through 151 2/3 innings.

He similarly has one year remaining under arbitration and is estimated to earn $800,000 next season by Spotrac.

Astros general manager Dana Brown has previously indicated that the Astros would only trade Bregman if it made them more competitive going forward. The team could be considering securing an extension for Gil as part of their future plans.

The Astros have a few questions to answer regarding their rotation after veteran starter Justin Verlander hit free agency following the 2024 season.

Yusei Kikuchi, who briefly joined the Astros as a mid-season rental in 2024, is also headed out of Houston after signing with the Los Angeles Angels in free agency.

The Astros could be set to start the season without Lance McCullers Jr., who has not yet returned from right flexor tendon surgery in summer of 2023, as well as Cristian Javier, who underwent right elbow surgery in June.

The Yankees meanwhile have an apparent surplus of starting pitchers after adding Max Fried in free agency.

With Gerrit Cole and Fried at the top of the rotation, the Yankees currently hold Gil alongside Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman on a list of seven potential starters.

Verlander could still return to the Astros, with whom Brown has confirmed he is having talks. However, he is turning 42 in February, so Houston could decide to target young pitching talent this offseason regardless of his free agency decision.