Jose Altuve of the Astros to switch positions for Alex Bregman
Houston Astros veteran second baseman Jose Altuve is excited about the possibility of his former teammate Alex Bregman returning to the team. Altuve, a nine-time All-Star, is even willing to switch positions and play left field to make room for Bregman.
This is one option the Astros are considering to accommodate Bregman, who is currently a free agent after spending nine seasons with Houston. While the team is still open to re-signing him, they have already acquired veteran third baseman Isaac Paredes, who has some experience playing second base in the major leagues.
Altuve, 34, has been with the Astros since his debut in 2011 and has played 1,765 games at second base, making him the active leader in the league. He has also won a Gold Glove Award and has played a few games at shortstop.
The Astros have a precedent for moving a Hall of Fame second baseman to the outfield, as they did with Craig Biggio to make room for Jeff Kent. Manager Joe Espada believes Altuve has the athleticism and team-oriented mindset to make the switch if necessary.
The Houston infield is currently set with Altuve, shortstop Jeremy Pena, first baseman Christian Walker, and third baseman Paredes. The team traded All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker to acquire Paredes, and there may be a need for Bregman in the outfield if designated hitter Yordan Alvarez spends more time there.
Bregman, 30, has been Altuve's teammate since his debut in 2016 and has played multiple positions, including third base, shortstop, second base, and left field. The Astros are still interested in re-signing him, but he turned down a reported offer earlier this offseason. General manager Dana Brown says the door is still open for Bregman to return.
If Bregman does return, Brown sees him playing his natural position at third base. Bregman has been a standout player for the Astros, winning a Gold Glove and two All-Star selections, as well as two World Series rings.
In 2024, Bregman had a .260 batting average with 26 home runs and 75 RBIs in 145 games. While his OPS was the lowest of his career, he has a strong overall record with the Astros, batting .272 with 191 home runs and 663 RBIs in 1,111 games.
