A reunion between Alex Bregman and the Houston Astros could be on the way. According to MLB insider Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Astros have resumed conversations with Bregman when it appeared the door was closed. After Bregman declined a six-year, $156 million contract earlier this winter, the Astros acquired All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes in the Kyle Tucker trade with the Chicago Cubs. Houston also signed first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year contract worth $60 million.
The Astros’ infield was set with Walker at first, Altuve at second, Peña at shortstop, and Paredes at third. However, if Bregman returns to Houston, the infield alignment will need to be rearranged, potentially pushing Altuve to a new position.
Jose Altuve would go to outfield if Alex Bregman returns to the Houston Astros.
According to Rome, Altuve has pushed for Bregman’s return to Houston in conversations with Astros owner Jim Crane. “Throughout October, second baseman Jose Altuve begged Crane and the Astros’ front office to keep Bregman, a player he said’made this entire organization better than where we actually were before him.’ Crane admitted Altuve’s comments ‘(carry) some weight with me and carries some weight with Dana,'” Rome stated.
If Altuve gets his way and Bregman joins the Astros, the former MVP will move positions. Bregman would return to third base, Paredes would move to second (where he has previously played), and Altuve would move to left field, a position he has not played in his 14-year MLB career. “Altuve has never played a major-league inning anywhere other than second base or shortstop, but his range and defensive numbers have dipped at second base over the last two seasons. Rome observed that Paredes, who is nine years younger than Altuve, has made 53 major-league starts at second base.
This prospective realignment is still a long way off, as negotiations between Bregman and the Astros continue.
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