Houston Astros star calls out front office, ownership before critical offseason
The Houston Astros are out of the MLB playoffs before the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016, ending an incredible run for one of MLB’s dynasties. With the season over, the Astros front office and ownership are already facing pressure from inside the clubhouse.
Houston has made efforts to reduce payroll in recent years while still keeping its focus on competing for another World Series title. However, this season’s postseason disappointment at home is immediately followed by an offseason with major Astros free agents hitting the open market.
Those circumstances are precisely what prompted Astros’ All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve, who is typically more reserved, to call upon the organization to do what this team needs by re-signing Alex Bregman with a contract he’s earned.
“He gave a lot to this organization. Now it’s time for us, as a team, as an organization, to pay him back and make him stay here…We’re not going to be the same organization without him. In my mind, there’s not a chance this is the last one.”
Houston did already extend Altuve’s contract, agreeing before the regular season on a $125 million contract extension that goes through the 2029 MLB season. Now that he is one of the highest paid MLB players, Altuve is hopeful the organization does the same for his long-time friend and teammate.
Bregman is coming off a season with a career-low in OPS (.768) and the second-worst OBP (.313) of his career. However, the 30-year-old looked much better down the stretch, posting a .281/.326/.557 slash line with a .883 OPS and 146 wRC+ in the final two months of the regular season
