If there is one thing I trust it's our organizations's skill at picking solid Afro-Caribbean players.

yordan, framber, Javier, Ron white. This new pitcher from the cubs will probably be a stud

I agree I think this is a pretty good off-season as long as we are able to get Bregman back. I'm still of the belief that we should've kept Tucker and given him the max deal because I think he will be worth it and he's young enough. But I also get why they didn't and if Cam Smith ends up working out, we could look at that trade as genius

My biggest complaint is I still think that we need a starting pitcher just because of all the injuries and having to depend on guys to return to form after major injuries is worrisome

This definitely could've been an off-season where we got a lot worse, and I'm hopeful we avoided that

Bregman article in the AM.

Some details on the teams continuing to pursue him, including #Astros. #Mets are no longer involved, a source tells me.

Tried to calculate how much luxury tax a Bregman contract would cost at his current offer vs. a higher offer for Astros.

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) January 27, 2025

The Sun said:

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wcrew93 said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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On their podcast, Chandler suggests that the bregman decision could happen this week.

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They also suggested that Altuve would be headed to LF sooner or later regardless of Bregman returning.

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Altuve's noodle arm doesn't play any OF position.

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To be fair, his noodle arm doesn't play anywhere. He is going to be a bad defender regardless of where you put him on the field.

Latest notes:

*Why Cohen’s comments on Alonso talks were so unusual

*Astros’ choices if Bregman returns

*Dodgers’ potential weakness

*Pirates’ Skenes on how he needs to improve

*More on trade, FA marketshttps://t.co/EstDsKIBgi

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 27, 2025

Quote:

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Houston Astros officials are adamant that free agent Alex Bregman will remain at third base if they re-sign him as a free agent. But defensively, the Astros might be better off with Bregman moving to second and Isaac Paredes staying at third.

Bregman, 30, won his first Gold Glove at third in 2024. But his agent, Boras, has indicated that he is willing to move to second the position Bregman would play if he signed with the Boston Red Sox.

Of course, it is one thing to change positions for Rafael Devers, the Red Sox's franchise player (though a subpar defender), and quite another to move Paredes, who made his first All-Star team last season but is still only 25.

Bregman, who was a shortstop at LSU and has appeared in 257 games professionally at that position, likely would adapt well to second, where he has only 32 innings of experience. The Tampa Bay Rays, because of Paredes' limited range, considered him much more of a third baseman. Yet Paredes seemingly is the one who would switch, even though he has played only 67 games at second compared to 335 games at third.

The re-signing of Bregman also would raise another defensive question for the Astros. Jose Altuve said at the team's Fan Fest on Saturday that he is willing to go from second to left field to accommodate Bregman's return and Paredes' expected move to second. But in 18 professional seasons, Altuve has never played outfield. In the majors, he has spent all but six of his more than 15,000 defensive innings at second (the others were at short).

Moving Altuve off second certainly makes sense. He ranked 35th among second basemen last season in Defensive Runs Saved, 36th in Outs Above Average. Left field at Houston's Daikin (formerly Minute Maid) Park might not be a problem for him; Fenway is the only left field in the majors that is smaller. But Altuve turns 35 in May. His sprint speed last season was in only the 44th percentile. And the Astros prefer Yordan Alvarez as their primary DH.

Adding Bregman to an offense with Paredes and Christian Walker would cushion the blow of losing right fielder Kyle Tucker in the trade that brought Paredes from the Chicago Cubs. But while Walker is a significant upgrade at first, the turnover of position players would leave the Astros with questionable defense at second and in left. And the trade of Ryan Pressly to the Cubs will weaken their bullpen.

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How is Altuve sprint speed only 44th percentile

astros4545 said:

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How is Altuve sprint speed only 44th percentile

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Stride length?

But he gets from home to first at an elite level when he tries

Does Ryan Pressly's reported trade to the Cubs now open the door for the Astros to bring back Alex Bregman?#MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/fp4WVGYVjk

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 27, 2025

So whats our best guess at the Astros current contract offer to Bregman?

what does the lineup look like if Bregman returns?

as far as I can tell still two huge holes in the OF w Meyers and McCormick

Ideally Cam Smith in RF and Melton in CF would work

from a fan standpoint...Altuve in LF will be entertaining...one way or the other

one positive in bringing back Bregman...

it should majorly cut down the number of at-bats for Dubon

in fact Dubon's value takes a hit with Altuve going to the outfield

as second base is Dubon's best position, but Paredes is a 150-game starter there

texasaggie2015 said:

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Neither one of those guys are close to being ready to be every day big leaguers unfortunately

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maybe so, but neither are Meyers or Chaz

Would rather them get on the job training.

Melton is 24, its time

GigEmMortis said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Why?

I actually think we should get real weird and move Bregman to 2B, Parades to 3B, and Altuve to LF.

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Bregman won the gold glove at 3B last year. Why would you swap his gold glove defense for Paredes?

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I was halfway tongue in cheek, but I think Bregman is a plus defender who might be able to handle 2B better than Parades. Paredes range is somewhat limited and is a better natural fit in a corner.

If Bregman is a 9/10 at 3B and a 7/10 at 2B & Paredes is a 6/10 at 3B and a 3/10 at 2B then 13>12.

texasaggie2015 said:

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Yeah, I would rather not call them up prematurely and kill their confidence early in their careers. Cam Smith is the 56th best prospect in baseball and has less than 20 ABs at AA ball.

And Chas had a really good year two years ago. There's a chance he comes back healthy and looks more like 2023 Chas than 2024 Chas.

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If that happens a lot of our issues would be taken care of. Lets hope!

AgLA06 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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I think too many are thinking of the Bregman deal in a vacuum. is he worth 6/156? Maybe. Maybe not. Paying 30 years old 5+ years is usually a bad idea. I think we'r heading to a very large cliff after 2027.

The following will be free agents after '27 (a few after '26)

• Walker
• McCullers (26)
• Abreu (26)
• McCormick (26)
• Garcia (26)
• Paredes
• Pena
• Meyers

Altuve will be 38 & Yordan/Diaz/Brown will be on their walk year. If I am running the show, I go all in on the next 3 seasons then unload Yordan/Diaz/Brown to usher in a new crop of minor leaguers.

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Biggest reason I hope we pass on Bregman and if we're going to spend money, we do it to acquire young players with potential and start the rebuild now.

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I love bregman, but tend to agree

we are in danger of trying to limp along and recapture glory that has left the building instead of an actual rebuild.

This also goes to why it was dumb to jump the gun and trade Tucker, would rather had given it one more run at a title

Dubon imo is going to be the player they try and trade to cut payroll if in fact they resign Bregman.

AustinCountyAg said:

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Dubon imo is going to be the player they try and trade to cut payroll if in fact they resign Bregman.

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I kind of agree, but we have to find another body that can play SS.

But we have a legitimate 3 year window right now to add hardware to the trophy case. Why put the cart before the horse?

Bag said:

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AgLA06 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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I think too many are thinking of the Bregman deal in a vacuum. is he worth 6/156? Maybe. Maybe not. Paying 30 years old 5+ years is usually a bad idea. I think we'r heading to a very large cliff after 2027.

The following will be free agents after '27 (a few after '26)

• Walker
• McCullers (26)
• Abreu (26)
• McCormick (26)
• Garcia (26)
• Paredes
• Pena
• Meyers

Altuve will be 38 & Yordan/Diaz/Brown will be on their walk year. If I am running the show, I go all in on the next 3 seasons then unload Yordan/Diaz/Brown to usher in a new crop of minor leaguers.

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Biggest reason I hope we pass on Bregman and if we're going to spend money, we do it to acquire young players with potential and start the rebuild now.

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I love bregman, but tend to agree

we are in danger of trying to limp along and recapture glory that has left the building instead of an actual rebuild.

This also goes to why it was dumb to jump the gun and trade Tucker, would rather had given it one more run at a title

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Yep. Of the 2, I'd rather have King Tuck than Bregman for the next 4-5 years. Just seems really backwards if he comes back.