The Houston Astros have had a weird offseason, and everyone is wondering what kind of path the team is on now. This winter, the team traded Kyle Tucker, salary-dumped Ryan Pressly, and failed to get their star third baseman Alex Bregman back. Bregman is now with the Red Sox and has signed a 120 million, 3-year contract with them.

Now that spring training has officially kicked in, questions like who will replace Tucker and Bregman’s offense have arisen. There is also uncertainty over where Jose Altuve will play. If Altuve moves to the left, then who will play second base? All these questions have surrounded the Astros and formed a cloud of uncertainty over them. With these unanswered and unsolved questions, can the team make it to the postseason?

In a recent podcast episode video uploaded by Crush City Territory, podcasters say that this whole Astros situation is beautifully put by pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Apparently, Lance suggested that they let them put themselves in a situation where they win, then move to the playoffs rather than just showing up to camp and saying, “It’s World Series or bust,” to which, Josh Reddick’s reaction was, “They’re not the Astros of old anymore.” 

“I really think that the dynasty is kind of, I wouldn’t say on its way out the door, but you know they are kind of walking that way where the powerhouse Houston Astros aren’t there anymore,” Reddick added. There is still confidence in the Astros as a team and in its clubhouse, but they cannot rely on certain players anymore. If the club wants to win, it is going to take a team effort. The Astros heavily relied on Alex Bregman for their wins, but now that he is gone, things will have to change. Even former teammates know this and miss Bregman in their locker room.

Jose Altuve addresses Bregman’s exit from the Astros

For years, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman were not only cornerstones of the Houston Astros’ success but also inseparable teammates. However, this spring, as Altuve returned to the Astros’ camp, his familiar locker was now next to young shortstop Jeremy Peña. Altuve, never one to shy away from expressing his feelings, addressed the departure with a sense of both admiration and bittersweet acceptance.

“We lost a big player, obviously,” Altuve said, reflecting on the hole left by Bregman’s exit while acknowledging, “But we’ve got to focus on the guys that we have here.” Altuve also highlighted Bregman’s legacy with the Astros, calling him one of the best to ever play in Houston. Altuve expressed genuine happiness for his former teammate, who secured a remarkable $40 million per year contract, a rare achievement in the sport. “We’re all going to remember him and going to miss him, but we’re also happy for him,” Altuve added.

The team still boasts elite players capable of continuing their championship aspirations, and Altuve made it clear he remains as committed as ever to leading this new era. His call to action was a reminder that, as much as Bregman’s presence will be missed, the Astros are built on a foundation of resilience and determination, as he concluded: “We’re definitely going to do everything to win.”