Astros GM hasn't discussed extensions with Altuve, Bregman

The Houston Astros haven't talked about contract extensions with star infielders Jose Altuve or Alex Bregman, but the organization is interested in doing so at some point.

"We're trying to make sure that we get this team where we want it, and we're trying to roll into spring training and get moving," general manager Dana Brown recently told the Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara. "But of course, at some point, we'll have some of those conversations."

Both Bregman and Altuve are set to enter free agency at the end of the 2024 campaign. The pair have been integral pieces of Astros clubs that have won two World Series and made seven consecutive appearances in the ALCS.

Brown admitted at the winter meetings that there's no timetable to conduct discussions with either player - both of whom are represented by agent Scott Boras - but he'd prefer not to have these talks during the season.

Bregman doesn't appear to want these discussions to happen in-season, either.

"I haven't even really thought about if I'd be open or not," he said. "But to be honest with you, I really just want to focus on playing the games and doing that. I would like to keep all of that just between me and Scott and the team and focus on baseball, not let that be any sort of distraction or anything during the season. I don't even really want to think about it, to be honest with you."

Under owner Jim Crane, the Astros have a reputation for not handing out lucrative long-term deals to players - even homegrown types like Altuve and Bregman. They let both George Springer and Carlos Correa leave in free agency when the costs to sign them ballooned.

They did, however, reportedly agree to a five-year, $95-million deal with free-agent closer Josh Hader, so the club may be operating differently than in years past.

"We're in the market to try to do what we can to continue to have this team and to keep it together," Brown said. "We haven't talked to any of our guys that are becoming free agents yet. But we will definitely have some of those conversations down the road. In terms of affecting it, we'll see. But I think at the end of the day, we're going to try to keep this core together."