Houston Astros will be linked to the 10-time Gold Glove winner if they lose the superstar

The Houston Astros are heading into an offseason where the big question is what the team will do for the remainder of the free agency and acquisition period.

As Houston tries to retool after its earliest exit from the postseason in seven years and the end of a streak of dominance in the American League, one of the key players in its entire winning reign, third baseman Alex Bregman, is about to become a free agent. Over the years, Bregman has become one of the faces of the organization and a fan favorite, having helped the Astros to four World Series appearances and two titles.

But all good things must come to an end, and if Houston actually decides to give up on the franchise cornerstone and sign him to a big deal elsewhere, someone will have to play third base.

While Bregman's firing would likely be a sign that there won't be many big changes this winter and the focus is on building for the future, perhaps a replacement could step right in and offer similar production.

John Denton of MLB.com called the Astros a potential candidate to watch if the recovering St. Louis Cardinals decide to trade longtime All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado.

“Arenado, 33, has repeatedly mentioned that he feels the clock is ticking on his career and that he wants to be on a team that can compete for a World Series,” Denton wrote. “Could he be a cheaper option for the Astros if they lose free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, or would he consider the Dodgers, Angels, D-backs or Mariners?”

Arenado is a 12-year veteran and has long been one of the league's best at the hot corner. He will remain under the team's control for three more years and will have an average annual value of just over $17 million, which is likely significantly less than what Bregman will end up signing, and essentially a shorter contract.

Arenado is immediately a massive defensive upgrade from Bregman, having won ten straight Gold Gloves between his rookie year in 2013 and 2022.

The question is how much he will have left in the tank when he turns 34 by the start of the 2025 season. However, with the numbers still solid, Arenado would likely be able to play for Houston throughout the remainder of his contract.

While probably worth less overall than Bregman, Arenado would certainly be a nice consolation prize that fans would be happy about.