Alex Bregman drops a hint about the future after defeating the Astros

Perhaps he was thanking the fans for supporting the team throughout the season and in the home playoff series.

Or maybe this is his way of saying goodbye.

The future of impending free agent Alex Bregman is uncertain after the Astros were eliminated from the 2024 MLB playoffs on Wednesday, losing 2-0 to the Tigers in the best-of-three wild-card series in Houston.

And the 30-year-old third baseman, who was on the roster of the team that won the 2017 and 2022 World Series, posted a simple message on his X account that could signal he is preparing to move elsewhere.

“Thank you, Houston,” Bregman wrote Wednesday evening.

There should be a solid market for Bregman, even though he's coming off a relatively weak season by his standards and the Astros tend not to re-sign some of their big stars.

But Jose Altuve, an exception to the rule who just completed the first year of a five-year, $125 million contract, wants the organization to do whatever it takes to keep Bregman.

“We won’t be the same organization without him,” Altuve told reporters after the Astros’ exit. “In my opinion, there is no chance of this being the last time.”

Bregman finished the 2024 season with a career-low .768 OPS, hitting .260 with 26 home runs and 75 RBIs.

Before the All-Star break, Bregman hit 12 home runs with 47 RBIs, a .256 average and a .730 OPS in 92 games. In 53 games after the break, he hit 14 home runs with 28 RBIs, a .266 average and an .833 OPS.

“I haven’t had a chance to process it yet,” Bregman said. “I was planning on being here (Thursday for Game 3).”

He hasn't shown the MVP potential in recent years that he showed in 2018 and 2019, when he earned his two All-Star nominations and combined for 72 home runs and 215 RBIs, but he still has thunder in his bat , having hit 74 home runs and 96 doubles with 266 RBIs over the past three seasons.

Bregman hit 3 for 8 in the two games against the Tigers, and in 99 playoff games he hit .238 with a .789 OPS, 19 home runs and 54 RBIs.

Astros GM Dana Brown told ESPN he believes “things will work out” between the team and Bregman.