By helping the Astros unload the contract, the Tigers might have hurt their own chances to sign third baseman Alex Bregman, the top free-agent hitter still on the market. The Pressly trade has only fueled speculation that the Astros are positioning their payroll for a last-ditch effort to retain their fan-favorite star.

The Detroit Tigers reportedly have competition from the Houston Astros, Alex Bregman's former team, in the pursuit for the free agent third baseman.

Alex Bregman remains on the free agent market despite having teams interested in him. The Houston Astros — the only team Bregman’s played for in his nine-year MLB career — remain in the mix for the infielder and are “trying to bring him back,” MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported Monday.

According to a source, Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman has very low odds of re-signing with the Houston MLB team after 9 seasons.

The Houston Astros are back in the running for Alex Bregman, but they will have to contend with a couple other teams in need of help at third base.

That, tidily enough, brings us to Astros lifer Alex Bregman, who remains on the free-agent market. Bregman is of interest to the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, and perhaps Toront

The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros are reportedly "finalizing" a deal that will send closer Ryan Pressly to Chicago "pending medical review," per ESPN's

If Bregman is back in Houston, team sources indicated he would play third base in place of Isaac Paredes, whom the Astros acquired as part of the three-player package for Tucker. In that scenario, both Paredes and Altuve could face a position change.

The trade of Ryan Pressly and Jose Altuve’s willingness to move from second base to left field has renewed hope that the Houston Astros may be able to re-sign Alex Bregman. That’s a huge change from just five weeks ago when general manager Dana Brown termed the negotiations with the free agent third baseman as “stalled” and appeared to close the door on a possible reunion.

The Houston Astros reached a tentative agreement to trade Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs, clearing the way for Alex Bregman to return to the Astros.

Houston Astros career second baseman Jose Altuve is so eager for former teammate Alex Bregman to potentially return to the squad, the nine-time All-Star is willing to move to left field.