Houston Astros career second baseman Jose Altuve is so eager for former teammate Alex Bregman to potentially return to the squad, the nine-time All-Star is willing to move to left field.

Houston general manager Dana Brown says the door for re-signing free agent Alex Bregman is “cracked” open, but he acknowledges keeping the third baseman with the Astros would be a long shot.

After the Houston Astros fielded a payroll in 2024 that triggered MLB’s competitive balance tax, incurring the penalty for the first time amid owner Jim Crane’s tenure, Crane was asked if the team would consider overstepping the tax threshold again in 2025.