If the Houston Astros lose third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency, an outcome they still hope to avoid, pursuit of an outside replacement is likely to follow. Astros officials have reiterated optimism at baseball’s winter meetings that they can retain Bregman,

The Houston Astros added five players — four pitchers and a shortstop — in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft Wednesday at the winter meetings. Houston did not acquire any players in the major league phase of the draft or have any players taken from its system in the major or minor league portions of the Rule 5.