The Houston Astros may still have a stacked roster heading into the 2024 season, but that doesn’t mean that the franchise isn’t looking for some changes to bolster the team’s chances of competing for the World Series title. There’s also the question of the Astros’ future, especially when some of its veteran stars, such as Alex Bregman, are approaching free agency. Perhaps the Astros trust their talent pipeline and deal Bregman away to replenish their farm system especially when retaining the 29-year old third baseman would cost a pretty penny.

But at the very least, Astros general manager Dana Brown remained firm in his stance that the team won’t be dealing Bregman away this offseason as they recognize just how important he is to their hopes of competing for a championship in 2024.Dana Brown (Astros GM) in the two buttons meme, TRADE / STAY, with Alex Bregman looking on, smiling

“We’re not entertaining trading Bregman at all. Alex Bregman, he’s had a great career here. We’re not interested in trading him. I think Alex knows that and understands it based on our conversations. I’m not worried one bit about the articles and the rumors, and I’m not sure where it’s coming from. At the end of the day, Alex is a pillar here. You can’t replace that type of defense and that type of bat. We’re trying to win here,” the Astros GM told reporters, via Chandler Rome of The AtDana Brown (Astros GM) in the two buttons meme, TRADE / STAY, with Alex Bregman looking on, smiling

Indeed, the Astros are still trying to win now, so it’s extremely counterintuitive for them to trade away Alex Bregman, unless it brings an established big leaguer in return, which is unlikely due to the third baseman’s current contract situation. Bregman may have already peaked to end the 2010s, but he continues to be a comfortably above-average big leaguer, both at the plate and on the field. This is not a managerial simulation game where users try to recoup prospect capital for a future free agent on the regular.