HOUSTON ¨C The Astros haven¡¯t ruled out a reunion with free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman as the Winter Meetings approach, but their ability to re-sign him hinges on what other offers he¡¯s received on the market.

The Astros have offered Bregman a six-year deal worth around $156 million, a source told MLB.com this week. That would be a club-record contract for the team in terms of dollars, but Bregman is believed to be seeking a deal closer to $200 million, which likely would price out the Astros and force them to move on from their cornerstone third baseman.

• Breaking down Bregman's top suitors ... and each of their chances

Astros owner Jim Crane last month reiterated his stance of preferring not to hand out lengthy contract extensions to free agents worth hundreds of millions of dollars ¨C a strategy that¡¯s paid off considering the club has continued to win despite losing outfielder George Springer, pitcher Gerrit Cole and shortstop Carlos Correa, among others, in free agency in recent years.

Under Crane, the Astros have never offered more than five years to a free agent, and the biggest deal he¡¯s given to any player is the $151 million that second baseman Jose Altuve received with his extension in 2018. Still, the Astros operated with a top-five payroll last season and exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax for the first time.

Crane admitted Altuve¡¯s plea at the end of the season for the club to re-sign Bregman caught his attention, but the decision will come down to money and not sentiment.

¡°You have to be cognizant of that because the longer the contracts on the back end, it gets difficult to carry it and you decrease your ability to be competitive when you've got a lot of money tied up,¡± Crane said on Nov. 18. ¡°We have some money coming off the payroll next year, as you well know. We run it like a business, and we make good decisions.¡±

Bregman has been a core player during the Astros¡¯ run of success in the past decade, which culminated with World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. Last season, he slashed .260/.315/.453 with 26 homers and 75 RBIs and won a Gold Glove Award at third base, and he¡¯s also become one of the team¡¯s biggest leaders. He¡¯s a pillar in the clubhouse.

¡°There¡¯s no secret what he means to this team and this organization,¡± Astros manager Joe Espada said on Tuesday. ¡°Breggy is a winner; he¡¯s a leader. He has all the qualities that you¡¯re looking for from a baseball player. This is the part of the business that I don¡¯t have much control of that, just to show my support and the fact he knows we love him and I love him.

¡°He¡¯s got the right to do what he thinks is best for him and his family and that¡¯s also important. He knows that we support him, we love him here in Houston. He¡¯s helped us win some championships and a lot of baseball games. He¡¯s also a guy that has done a lot for this community and that means a lot to me and this organization. Hopefully we can get it done.¡±

The club is already considering backup options if Bregman signs elsewhere. Among the players on the top of their list to play third base is Jorge Polanco, who would be looking for a rebound season. A switch-hitter coming off knee surgery, Polanco hit for a career-low .651 OPS in 118 games with the Mariners last season, but he posted a .724 OPS and hit 11 of his 16 homers in 63 games from July 9 through the end of the season.

If the Astros don¡¯t re-sign Bregman or spend big money at third base, they¡¯ll be more aggressive in looking for upgrades at first base, where Houston posted the fifth-lowest OPS (.651) in the Major Leagues last season.

Jon Singleton received the majority of the reps after the club released Jos¨¦ Abreu, but Singleton¡¯s inability to hit left-handed pitching (.457 OPS in 82 PA this season) leaves him best suited as more of a platoon bat who can play against righties.

The team has discussed free agent first baseman Christian Walker, a three-time Gold Glove winner. He missed 32 games in 2024 due to an oblique injury, but he belted 26 homers in 130 games, posting his third straight season with an OPS north of .800.

The Astros would prefer for Bregman to make a decision before they make their next move, but they also can¡¯t afford to wait too long.