"Alex Bregman should not command superstar money" - Sportscaster warns the Astros against long-term commitment with 'past his peak' 2× All-Star
Texas-based sports radio broadcaster Charlie Pallilo believes the Houston Astros should refrain from offering Alex Bregman a lucrative, long-term extension at the end of the season. Pallilo feels the Astros third baseman cannot be considered a superstar player, as his skills are starting to fade, having reached the twilight of his career.
Bregman is a two-time All-Star who has spent his entire nine-year major league career with the Astros and won two World Series titles. However, the 31-year-old has seemingly declined in recent seasons, as he has batted below .260 since the 2020 campaign, hitting only 81 home runs.
The Astros offered Bregman a six-year, $100 million deal in 2019, which expires at the end of this year. Bregman is batting .252/.308/.413 for the season, with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs, while the Astros are going through their most challenging campaign in the past decade.
Therefore, Pallilo feels the Astros shouldn't consider offering Bregman a long-term extension and instead look to invest the funds on improving other areas of the roster. Pallilo gave his views on the Stone Cold 'Stros podcast for the SportsMap Houston network on Thursday evening, where he serves as a regular correspondent.
"If I am the Astros, I am not making a long-dollar, long-year commitment to Alex Bregman, who has not been a great player for the last five years. He has been the worst this season when he has never been more incentivised to be outstanding," Pallilo said.
"He has seven weeks to turn it around. August is supposed to be his month, but he is batting .259 in the first week of August. But Alex Bregman should not command superstar money because he is not a superstar and he is also now in his thirties," he added.
Although the Astros suffered a dreadful opening couple of months of the 2024 season, they are atop the American League West. They improved to 59-55 after beating their arch-rivals Texas Rangers in the last two meetings of a three-game series earlier in the week.
"Alex Bregman is already past his peak": Charlie Pallilo
Charlie Pallilo continued his assessment of Alex Bregman by saying that he could continue to be a productive player for his team but not at an elite level. Pallilo thinks Bregman's best years are behind him, so the Houston Astros will have to consider that while offering an extension.
Pallilo drew comparisons with the 10-year, $313.5 million extension the Boston Red Sox offered last year to Rafael Devers, who's widely regarded as the best third baseman from an offensive perspective.
He pointed out that Devers was 26 when he signed the deal, which means the Red Sox ensured that his peak years would be spent in Boston.
"Alex Bregman, unless he has some sort of rennaisance, is already past his peak. There is difference between 'past your peak' and 'washed up'. But Alex Bregman should not commanding huge dollars and huge years," Pallilo said.
For now, Bregman is an integral part of a misfiring Astros lineup despite his subpar displays. The two-time All-Star has the fifth-highest OPS on the team and ranks third in home runs and RBIs.