Astros GM indicates that Altuve, Bregman extension talks might have to wait

Astros general manager Dana Brown indicated that it is unlikely the team will open contract extension talks with Alex Bregman or Jose Altuve until next offseason.

Brown explained via Chandler Rome of the 'Houston Chronicle' that the tabling of extensions is "part of getting through (2025), getting to (2026), some more time to replenish the system without overhauling the roster.”

While Brown didn’t walk back his comments from earlier in exhibition play, his recent comments represent at least a slight departure from the more optimistic tune he was singing several weeks ago, when he told reporters that the club was hoping to make both Altuve and Bregman career-long Astros. The GM indicated at the time that he’d said as much to agent Scott Boras, who represents both players.

Putting talks on the back-burner doesn’t rule out an eventual extension for either player, of course. Both Altuve and Bregman have already signed early-career extensions (two, in the former’s case) and remain under contract for two more years. Altuve will make $26M in each of the next couple seasons, while Bregman is due $28.5M annually through 2024.

Altuve is trending towards the open market in advance of his age-35 season. He has yet to show any signs of slowing down and is coming off one of the best years of his career. This past season, the All-Star second baseman slashed .300/.387/.533 with 28 home runs, a career-best 10.9% walk rate and an excellent 14.4% strikeout percentage in 604 plate appearances. 

Bregman, meanwhile, is slated to hit free agency ahead of his age-31 campaign. While his bat has seemingly quieted from its MVP-caliber level in 2018-19, the slugger remains a well above-average hitter. Bregman is coming off a .259/.366/.454 batting line with 23 longballs and more walks than strikeouts (13.3% versus 11.7%) through 656 trips to the dish. Few hitters can match that control of the strike zone and Bregman generally pairs that consistently strong offense with plus defensive marks at third base.

The Astros head into the 2023 campaign with a luxury tax payroll calculated by Roster Resource around $218M. That’s about $15M shy of the base threshold. Houston has once paid the CBT, going narrowly above the mark in 2020. They have a little over $100M in estimated CBT commitments by the 2025 campaign, when new deals for Altuve and/or Bregman would ostensibly begin.

Tucker and Valdez will each be in their final season of arbitration eligibility that year, barring extensions. Brown and owner Jim Crane could be faced with some difficult decisions a year or two down the line, though the club is in very strong shape for the immediate future. Of the players on their current roster, only veterans Michael Brantley and Martín Maldonado and relievers Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek are headed towards free agency next winter.