Matt Kawahara

With Alex Bregman still front and center among the Astros' free-agency pursuits, owner Jim Crane sounded wary of offering too lengthy a contract.

HOUSTON — Minute Maid Park's time is up.

Alex Bregman's declining of Astros' qualifying offer means Houston would receive a draft pick if he signs elsewhere.

Jake Meyers, Chas McCormick, Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, Jeremy Peña, Mauricio Dubón, Bryan Abreu and Luis Garcia were tendered contracts prior to the deadline

The Astros gave up three prospects at trade deadline for Yusei Kikuchi at trade deadline and he went 5-1 but is leaving in free agency.

How the Astros proceed with their offseason moves hinges on if Alex Bregman stays (and at what cost) or if leaves in free agency.

GM Dana Brown says the pursuit of Alex Bregman continues, but the yield for Kyle Tucker has put a contingency plan in place at third base.

Like Kyle Tucker, the left-hander has one year left on his contract, but Dana Brown is neither aggressively shopping him nor presently discussing an extension.

Kyle Tucker acknowledges all Astros did for him in his career in Houston but is ready to embrace Chicago after being traded to Cubs.

Christian Walker, whom the Astros signed with an eye toward an upgrade at first base, says joining Houston was a "no-brainer."