Astros general manager Dana Brown hasn’t given up on re-signing Alex Bregman.
Brown spoke to the media on Saturday about a potential Bregman reunion, stating that the team “had some conversations” with the star third baseman and that the talks were moving in a “positive” direction.
“I would say [the door is] cracked,” Brown said, via a video posted on X by MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart. “The fact that he’s still available, it just makes it interesting. Like man, this guy is such a good player, he’s done so many wonderful things here.’ We’ll stick with the cracked door and see where our conversations lead.”
He added that Bregman returning to Houston was still a “long shot,” but recent news suggests that Brown could just be hedging against his positive comments.
On Thursday, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Astros were “keeping the door ajar” for Bregman, while The Athletic reported that the two sides had resumed contract talks.
The latest news on the Bregman-Astros connection comes a month after Brown said talks with the two-time All-Star had “stalled.”
If Bregman returns, the team could move Isaac Parades, who was acquired from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade, to second base and Jose Altuve to left field, Nightengale reported.
The Astros have reportedly had a long-standing offer of six years and $156 million on the table, although it is unclear if Bregman is willing to come down from his higher asking price.
The Red Sox, Blue Jays, Tigers and others also have registered interest in Bregman at points during the offseason.
Bregman, who has played his entire nine-year career with the Astros, hit .260 with a .768 OPS, 26 home runs and 75 RBIs and won his first Gold Glove at the hot corner in 2024.