The Houston Astros recently made a blockbuster trade to ship Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs, which could be the key to an Alex Bregman reunion.

Astros trade Ryan Pressly to Cubs, clearing the way for a potential Alex Bregman reunion as they look to extend his contract.

Houston general manger Dana Brown says discussions about possible reunion with free agent Alex Bregman have been mostly 'internal.'

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.

Months later, Bregman remains unsigned, and a resolution with his free agency does not appear any closer. Among the teams that have been linked to Bregman in reports include the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. But the reality is that none of the teams listed are close to signing the All-Star infielder.

If money was the issue standing between Alex Bregman and a reunion with the Houston Astros, that issue has been taken care of after the team shipped reliever Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs.

With Bregman weighing his options, the Astros could look to target a less expensive player in Polanco who is coming off knee surgery.

Astros GM Dana Brown admitted his relationship with Ryan Pressly suffered over the last year before Houston traded him to the Cubs.

The Astros added Christian Walker and MLB Network analyst Sean Casey loves it for his defensive and offensive prowess

The Chicago Cubs have acquired right-hander Ryan Pressly and cash from the Houston Astros for minor league pitcher Juan Bello.

HOUSTON — The idea of Jose Altuve playing left field for the Astros first surfaced last week. It was reportedly Altuve's idea as a way to shift things around to make room for free agent third baseman Alex Bregman to return.