Houston, we have an offer.
The Astros offered free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman a six-year contract worth around $156 million, MLB.com reported on Thursday.
Bregman’s camp has not yet responded to the offer.
It had previously been reported that the two-time American League All-Star — a member of Houston’s World Series-winning teams in 2017 and 2022 — was seeking a deal closer to $200 million.
The Phillies, in addition to the Tigers and Red Sox, are among other franchises vying for the infielder’s services, The Post’s Jon Heyman previously reported.
Should Bregman, 30, choose one of these clubs over the Astros, he would be far from the first free agent to walk out of Houston in recent years.
Houston’s brass has shown an aversion to handing out megadeals stars for its players hitting free agency, so players such as George Springer (Blue Jays), Gerrit Cole (Yankees) and Carlos Correa (Twins) have taken their talents elsewhere once their contracts expired.
“I think some of those things, as we’ve learned through the years, the back end of those contracts can be difficult,” Astros’ owner Jim Crane said in 2023, per MLB.com. “They all don’t work out. I think we try to plan out pretty far, but nobody, I think, can tell you what’s going to happen [down the line].”
Even without those monumental contracts in the eight-, nine- and 10-year range, the Astros still had the third highest payroll in MLB — surpassed only by the Mets and Yankees.
With a total of more than $255 million allocated, 2024 was Houston’s first season operating above the competitive balance tax.
There are no clear-cut internal replacements for Bregman, so if the infielder denies the tendered offer, the Astros might look to make a move for third baseman Alec Bohm, whom the Phillies have reportedly placed on the trading block.
Nolan Arenado of the Cardinals could be another option, but the 33-year-old still has three years and $74 million remaining on his deal.
That contract also contains a full no-trade clause, so Arenado would have to approve of any move.
If the Astros would prefer to take the free-agent route, Jorge Polanco and Willy Adames are among the infielders on the market.
Last year, Bregman — a career .272 hitter with 191 home runs across his nine major league seasons — hit .260/.315/.453 with 26 homers and 75 RBIs while claiming his first Gold Glove.
