JUST NOW: Astros Admit To confirm three-year deal for outfielder with Red Sox after series of Negotiations

The Houston Astros have been active this offseason, but their moves have made it unlikely they will retain franchise cornerstone Alex Bregman.

On Monday, the Astros signed first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million deal, shortly after acquiring infielder Isaac Paredes in a trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs.

Astros GM Dana Brown acknowledged Bregman’s uncertain future, stating negotiations had stalled in recent weeks. “The way I view it right now is Paredes is going to play third base and Walker is going to play first base,” Brown said, according to ESPN. “Bregman’s still a free agent… We made a competitive offer to show we wanted him back, but we had to move forward. Adding Paredes early gave us flexibility at third, and when the chance to strengthen our lineup came with Walker, we seized it.”

Bregman now finds himself on the market, sparking speculation about his next destination. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand suggests it could come down to teams led by managers he’s played for, such as A.J. Hinch with the Tigers or Alex Cora with the Red Sox.

Boston, in particular, stands out as a potential fit. The Red Sox need a right-handed bat and infield versatility, and they have the financial flexibility to pursue Bregman. They’ve already made strategic moves to address their roster, trading for pitcher Garrett Crochet and signing Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval to cost-effective deals, leaving room for a marquee addition like Bregman.