MLB Insider Says Astros Will Prioritize One Star Over Their Other in Free Agency

The Houston Astros will have some decisions to make in free agency during the coming years. One MLB insider says that the front office has their minds made up who will be prioritized.

The Houston Astros will be in a Game 7 against their division and intrastate rival Texas Rangers on Monday.

A third consecutive World Series trip and their fifth overall would highlight the dominance of this "Golden Era."

The two players that have become the face of this run are Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman.

Both stars were there for the two World Series wins, they both have stayed with the organization after taking criticism following the cheating scandal and both players have expressed they want to be with the Astros for their entire careers.

But keeping both when they're set to hit free agency following the 2024 season could present some challenges.

Bregman will finish his five-year, $100 million contract and hit free agency in 2025. It could be argued that he has been vastly underpaid for what he's contributed for Houston.

He could be looking for a large final contract, something that the Astros organization has been reluctant to give, even to their best players.

Altuve will hit free agency at the same time when his seven-year, $163.5 million contract ends.

According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, Houston has a preference on who they would prefer to keep.

He writes, "Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman each are eligible for free agency after the 2024 season, but the Astros privately say their focus is squarely on Altuve. Altuve, who has been with the organization since 2007, will be paid $26 million in the final year of his seven-year, $163.5 million extension."

The superstar second baseman would be 35 when he hits free agency, while Bregman would be 31.

Prioritizing an aging veteran over a much younger option seems like a mistake.

Bregman would have many more top years remaining compared to Altuve.

Ideally, the Astros would like to keep both players on the team, but with Kyle Tucker set for a massive contract around the same time, that could complicate things.

This won't be a storyline until it finally comes time for new contracts, but it's a situation worth monitoring entering the offseason.