2024 Astros Winter Meetings Preview

This story is excerpted from the Astros Beat newsletter by Brian McTaggart. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to receive it regularly in your inbox.

HOUSTON – The future of free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman will be the dominant topic when Astros general manager Dana Brown and his top baseball lieutenants arrive in Dallas early next week for baseball’s annual Winter Meetings at the Hilton Anatole.

If the Astros are unable to retain Bregman, third base will become their biggest need of the offseason. They also want to increase production at first base and add a relief pitcher and perhaps a starting pitcher as well.

Astros manager Joe Espada will address the media in a press conference Monday afternoon, and Brown will meet with the media on Monday and Tuesday to answer questions from reporters.

The rumor mill will be circulating as the Winter Meetings take place Sunday through Wednesday in Dallas. Follow comprehensive coverage on MLB.com, Astros.com and MLB Network.

The conversation begins with Bregman. He was a cornerstone and leader of a Houston team that won four AL pennants and two World Series titles from 2017-22. If the Astros are successful in signing Bregman, they will most likely opt to team with Jon Singleton and Zach Dezenzo at first base.

If Bregman leaves, the Astros could opt to spend money at first base, where three-time Gold Glove winner Christian Walker would fit well. The Astros can spend on a big free agent or trade acquisition at first or third base, but not both. Houston also wants a backup pitcher and some starting pitching depth behind a rotation anchored by Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco and Spencer Arrighetti.

Potential trade candidates

The Astros have received many calls regarding a trade but are hesitant to sell major league talent. That doesn’t mean they won’t do it. The signing of Josh Hader in January and the emergence of Bryan Abreu have made veteran backup Ryan Pressly — who is expected to make $14 million next season — a potential trade candidate. The right-hander’s contract contains a full no-trade clause, so he will have a say in his next destination, assuming he even agrees to a deal.

Pressly hasn’t been as dominant over the last two years as he was in his All-Star seasons in 2019 and ’21, but he would be a bullpen upgrade — and a short-term signing — for many teams. Outfielders Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers are also drawing interest. Would the Astros consider trading outfielder Kyle Tucker or starter Valdez a year before entering free agency?

Should the Astros decide to trade either McCormick or Meyers, it would create an opportunity for top prospect Jacob Melton, an outfielder considered the No. 89 prospect in MLB. He split last season between Double-A Corpus Christi (58 games) and Triple-A Sugar Land (47 games) and hit .253/.310/.426 with 15 home runs, 54 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. He posted an OPS of .748 with Corpus Christi (58 games) and .719 with Sugar Land (47 games) and spent time in all three outfield spots, playing primarily in center field.

With an open spot on the 40-man roster, the Astros are unlikely to make a selection in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. However, the chances of them losing a player or two are possible. One intriguing name to keep an eye on is right-hander Alex Santos II, who was the club’s top pick (additional second round) in the 2020 MLB Draft as a high schooler from New York City. Since turning pro, his skills and control have declined and he missed most of last season with elbow problems. But he rebounded to lead the Arizona Fall League in strikeouts (26 in 17 2/3 innings) while displaying a mid-90s fastball, an upper-80s cutter and a low-80s slider. The Astros have three players in their top 30 prospect rankings who are eligible for the draft: right-handers Alimber Santa (No. 16) and Rhett Kouba (No. 24) and outfielder Colin Barber (No. 30).

Burning Questions: Will Houston re-sign Bregman?

The Astros have called re-signing Bregman their top offseason priority. He’s the second-best position player on the market behind Soto, so he may have to wait until Soto signs to get a clearer picture of his future. The Astros desperately want Bregman back — and second baseman Jose Altuve has advocated for his return — but it will come down to money. Astros owner Jim Crane has never guaranteed a free agent more than five years, and the largest deal he has given a player is the $151 million Altuve received with his contract extension in 2018. In order to keep Bregman in the club, a record deal is needed in Houston.