How the Houston Astros approach this offseason will be very revealing. A major decision looms regarding Alex Bregman’s free agency, and whether the team is willing to meet the hefty financial demands to keep him with the franchise that drafted him. Re-signing Bregman would likely push the Astros over the luxury tax for several years, something owner Jim Crane has mostly avoided since acquiring the team. However, if Crane wants the Astros to remain perennial contenders, as he has promised, it may require him to step up as one of the league’s top spenders.
General Manager Dana Brown has hinted that the Astros will need to get creative this offseason, regardless of whether Bregman stays. According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, this could open the door for significant moves, including a potential trade of Kyle Tucker.
“If history is any indication, the Astros likely won’t offer the kind of contracts needed to retain both Tucker and [Framber] Valdez. Their farm system is in desperate need of an infusion of talent, and replenishing it while maintaining the team’s competitive edge should be one of Brown’s top priorities. The easiest way to do that is to explore trades for one of these impending free agents, even if it breaks from the club’s usual approach. Remember, nothing is off the table,” Rome writes. Such a move would mark a dramatic shift for the Astros.
If they re-sign Bregman, the team may explore trading their star outfielder to address other needs, such as first base, while simultaneously rebuilding their farm system. What a trade for Tucker might bring in return remains to be seen.
