On Friday afternoon, the Houston Astros shocked the baseball world by announcing they had reached an agreement with Arizona Diamondbacks free agent Christian Walker. Walker will join the Astros to play first base, while trade acquisition Isaac Paredes will handle third base duties.
This move likely marks the end of Alex Bregman’s time in Houston after 1,111 games, 191 home runs, and two World Series titles. FanSided’s Cody Williams shares this view, predicting that the Astros will part ways with Bregman following the Walker signing.
Bregman, who is expected to land a $119 million deal this offseason according to Spotrac, could actually sign for a significantly larger amount. Williams highlights Bregman’s legacy as a two-time World Series champion, two-time All-Star, and 2019 AL MVP runner-up, pointing out his crucial role in Houston’s success since joining the team from LSU. While there was always a possibility he could return to the Astros to finish his career, the signing of Walker at first base, combined with José Altuve’s presence at second, effectively closes the door on that scenario.
Though the Astros have made it clear they likely won’t retain Bregman, this doesn’t mean they wanted to lose him. In fact, the team made significant efforts to re-sign him, but Bregman is now expected to land with another team for a much more lucrative contract than the one Walker received from Houston.
