The Houston Astros are reportedly "keeping the door open" about the possibility of bringing a homegrown hero back to Space City.
In a massive reversal of course, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Houston is suddenly "showing significant interest in Alex Bregman" after it had been a foregone conclusion for most of the winter that the two-time All-Star would move on after playing his entire nine-year big-league career with the Astros.
The free-agent market has not panned out this offseason the way Bregman and agent Scott Boras would have liked after turning down a six-year, $156 million deal offered by Houston last year.
Earlier this week, Will Kunkel of Fox 26 in Houston quoted Astros manager Joe Espada as saying “Our arms are still open. The door is still open. There’s always a chance,” regarding bringing Bregman back to the only Major League Baseball organization he has ever known.
The 30-year-old has played his entire career with the Houston Astros, the team that drafted him with the second overall pick in the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft. His previous five-year, $100 million contract expired with the final out of the 2024 season.
When the Astros traded outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs earlier this winter for a package that included third baseman Isaac Paredes, most figured that was the final call for Bregman's time in Houston.
However, Heyman notes that the team could move Bregman to second base, with team legend Jose Altuve going to left field to accommodate the maneuver.
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