Altuve urges Astros -- Time to pay Bregman back, 'make him stay' - ESPN

HOUSTON — Jose Altuve hugged Alex Bregman in the aftermath of the Houston Astros' sudden elimination Wednesday afternoon and assured his longtime teammate, a pending free agent, «You're coming back.»

«Now,» Altuve said, «it's time to make it happen.»

For nine years, Bregman has been a stalwart for the Astros, arguably their biggest on-field producer and undoubtedly the most integral part of their winning culture. Altuve hopes Game 2 of their wild-card series — a 5-2, season-ending loss to the upstart Detroit Tigers — isn't his last in an Astros uniform.

«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.»

The 2024 season saw the Astros overcome a 7-19 start to make the playoffs, becoming the first expansion-era team to do so, but their run of seven consecutive appearances in the American League Championship Series came to a swift end after two wild-card games that saw their offense go a combined 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

«I haven't really had a chance to process this,» Bregman said of his lingering free agency. «I was planning on being here tomorrow.»

He took to X after the game, posting simply, «Thank you Houston.»

Bregman, 30, is a two-time All-Star who has posted 38.3 FanGraphs wins above replacement since his first full season in 2017, second most among major league third basemen. Just as important, he has been a central figure to what has become a dynastic run in Houston. In a conversation with ESPN earlier this week, Astros general manager Dana Brown sounded optimistic that it would continue.

«I think it'll work out,» Brown said. «When you get down to it, I think he wants to stay here. I think we want him to stay here. And