Over the past month and a half, there has been growing frustration within the Houston Astros organization. Many want clarity on the team’s offseason plans; while front offices aren’t required to keep everyone informed, the lack of transparency has raised questions. General Manager Dana Brown has remained adamant in his commitment to making Alex Bregman the team’s “biggest priority.”

This stance has helped calm fans, reassuring them that one of their key stars will be retained. However, Brown’s focus on Bregman might be missing the mark when it comes to addressing the bigger questions surrounding the Astros’ roster. While locking up Bregman is important, it doesn’t solve all the team’s challenges. Brown himself has admitted that the team “may have to get a little bit creative” this offseason, with “nothing off the table.” 

The Houston Astros need to lose some to win

The upcoming Winter Meetings could provide a glimpse into just how creative the Houston Astros are willing to get. With an aging major-league roster and a depleted farm system, there are growing concerns about the team’s long-term sustainability. According to The Athletic, one of the options for Houston would be to explore trade talks involving Kyle Tucker or Framber Valdez. Both players are entering their final year of arbitration and are projected to make more than $15 million in 2025. Beyond that, they will likely demand hefty free-agent contract deals that Crane is known to shy away from.

For General Manager Dana Brown, the task is to balance the demands of an owner with the realities of the team’s current situation. People close to Jim Crane’s operations have wondered whether he could make any moves that might slightly narrow the window for a championship. If the Houston Astros are serious about retaining Alex Bregman long-term, they might be forced to make a tough decision: trading Kyle Tucker. Trading either Tucker or Valdez could help keep the major league team in contention for 2025. While contending without them would be more challenging, it’s not out of the question.

Is Alex Bregman worth it?

Alex Bregman is a cornerstone of the Houston Astros’ legacy. We all know that. He played a crucial role in both of the team’s World Series titles and is still an above-average third baseman. But the real question is: Is Bregman better than Kyle Tucker or Framber Valdez right now? And will he be better than them long-term? These are legitimate questions that need to be considered. Bergman may have finished the 2024 season strong, but he still posted a career-low .768 OPS.

Bregman’s undeniably a solid hitter and one of the game’s best defenders at third base, but he’s also 30 years old. So, do the Astros want to commit the largest free-agent contract of Jim Crane’s tenure to a player coming off his worst season in recent memory? Tucker, on the other hand, is just 27 years old and already one of the best outfielders in baseball. While he’d likely come with a larger price tag than Bregman, Kyle is also in much better form right now. And then, there’s Framber Valdez—he may have had a rough postseason recently but has been the ace of the staff for years.

Valdez is one of the best and most consistent pitchers in the American League. Letting him walk would be a massive blow, especially without a suitable replacement lined up. Sure, the Astros could get a significant return like Alex Bregman for either Tucker or Valdez in a trade, but the team could be worse off in 2025 without one of them. Re-signing Bregman should certainly be a priority, and keeping all three of these players long-term would be the ideal scenario. But is it possible, though? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.