Arizona faces an offseason crossroads after Eugenio Suárez left for Seattle. The D-backs reportedly eye Alex Bregman, who could opt out of Boston, to anchor a revamped infield with third/second-base versatility and leadership. Bregman’s 2023 line (.273/.360/.462, 18 HR, 62 RBI in 114) would boost the lineup, but Boston’s lure and a massive offer will shape the bid. In-house options Blaze Alexander and Jordan Lawlar would need flexible deployment to maximize value if Bregman signs.

Houston’s offseason plan centers on preserving core stability while addressing two free-agent questions. Framber Valdez and Victor Caratini are the only consequential free agents from the current roster, with Valdez anchoring the rotation and Caratini handling catching. The rest of the star core—Altuve, Alvarez, Peña, and Brown among others—remains under team control for the near term, creating room to balance extensions, arbitration, and payroll without a full rebuild.

Beyond Valdez and Caratini, the horizon features a mix of arbitration-eligible depth and aging or longer-term contracts. Key decisions will revolve around how aggressively Houston retains or replaces pieces like Abreu, Dubón, Urías, and McCullers, while mapping out long-term commitments for a championship window that runs through the late 2020s and into 2030s via extensions and option structure.

Astros miss the playoffs in 2025, snapping a long streak and forcing a pivotal offseason. Can Houston squeeze one more run in 2026 or pivot to a rebuild? The biggest variable is Dana Brown, whose 2026 club option looms, shaping decisions on depth, payroll and the core around Yordan Alvarez’s health.

Brown insists he’s the Astros’ GM, but the option decision will steer the direction. Broader MLB chatter ties Houston to Boston and Chicago moves, including Dustin May and White Sox trade talk, underscoring how Houston’s path could ripple across fantasy rosters this winter.