As Astros Fall To Tigers In Wild Card, Jose Altuve Demands New Contract For Alex Bregman

The Detroit Tigers swept the Houston Astros in two straight games to eliminate them in a Wild Card upset. Among the many disappointments that accompanied the defeat for Houston, Alex Bregman’s impending free agency lingers like a dark cloud.

After the game, the nine-year veteran and career-long Astro shared his farewells with teammates, having potentially played his final game in the blue and orange. Jose Altuve doesn’t believe it.

During an embrace between the two players on the field, the second baseman told Bregman, “You’re coming back.” He remained adamant while speaking with reporters, insisting that the Astros should re-sign his longtime teammate.

“We’re not going to be the same organization without him,” Altuve said. “In my mind, there’s not a chance this is the last one.”

Bregman’s contributions to the Astros during his career are astounding. He has been a cornerstone of a dynastic team that has made four World Series appearances and won two championships since his rookie year. Never batting worse than .259 in a full season, he has also stepped up in many postseason series. He and Altuve, who earned a $125 million extension from Houston earlier this year, are the only non-pitchers remaining from the 2017 World Series team.

At age 30, Bregman has proven that he still has plenty to offer teams in free agency. In 2024, he overcame a slow start and finished the season with a .260 batting average and 26 home runs, earning a 4.1 WAR. Though he hasn’t made an All-Star appearance since 2019, his value to Houston has been undeniable. He likely has one more big contract in him before retirement, but Altuve is reflecting the sentiments of many Astros fans who will demand that the team locks him down for life this off-season.

“He gave a lot to this organization,” Altuve said. “Now it’s time for us, as a team, as an organization, to pay him back and make him stay here.”