Astros Sign Christian Walker, Bregman Talks Stall

The Houston Astros have effectively ended their pursuit of re-signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman after contract negotiations stalled. General manager Dana Brown confirmed that while the Astros made a 'competitive offer' to Bregman, they had to explore other options, leading to the acquisition of infielder Isaac Paredes and the signing of first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million deal. Bregman, a two-time All-Star and significant contributor during his nine seasons with the Astros, is now without a team and has been linked to various franchises, including the Detroit Tigers. The Astros' decision was influenced by the need to improve their infield after releasing struggling first baseman Jose Abreu. Bregman ranks highly in several franchise statistics and his next contract could surpass $200 million depending on its length. As the team moves forward, Paredes is expected to take over at third base with Walker at first base.