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[Houston Astros]

Astros Will Be The First Team To Unveil A New City Connect Uniform In 2025

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros have been one of the best teams in Major League Baseball over the past eight seasons as they made seven straight American League Championship Series appearances.

However, that streak of ALCS appearances came to an end in 2024 as they lost to the Detroit Tigers in the wild-card series.

After the tough postseason exit, the Astros then lost one of their best players this offseason when they traded outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs.

The Astros could potentially lose another top player as free agent third baseman Alex Bregman has yet to sign with a team for the 2025 season.

Houston’s roster will have different personnel, and those players will also look different on the field.

“The Astros will become the first team to unveil a new City Connect uniform for 2025. The design of the uniform will be revealed in March, before the start of the regular season, and the Astros will wear the new alternate uniforms for the first time March 31 against the Giants,” Brian McTaggart of MLB.com wrote on X.

The Astros will become the first team to unveil a new City Connect uniform for 2025. The design of the uniform will be revealed in March, before the start of the regular season, and the Astros will wear the new alternate uniforms for the first time March 31 against the Giants.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 4, 2025

City Connect jerseys are alternate uniforms that teams wear to celebrate the history of their location.

While the Astros have had a productive recent history, their new-look team will be something to watch in 2025.

The post Astros Will Be The First Team To Unveil A New City Connect Uniform In 2025 appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/astros-...to-unveil-a-new-city-connect-uniform-in-2025/

 

[Houston Astros]

Astros Make A Big Announcement About Billy Wagner

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros made the postseason for an eighth consecutive season after finishing with a record of 88-73 and winning the American League West.

Although the Astros made yet another playoff appearance, their streak of seven straight American League Championship Series appearances ended as they lost to the Detroit Tigers in the wild-card round.

The Astros have had an interesting offseason as they traded outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs and could potentially lose third baseman Alex Bregman as a free agent.

While things may look questionable for the current Astros team, they did get some good news as an organization as former reliever Billy Wagner was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Now, the Astros will give Wagner another significant honor.

“The Astros will retire Billy Wagner’s number this season,” FOX Sports: MLB wrote on X.

The Astros will retire Billy Wagner's number this season

Billy Wagner is part of the BBWAA Hall of Fame Class of 2025 pic.twitter.com/wXS8zObzXn

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 4, 2025

Wagner, who wore No. 13 for the Astros, was one of three players voted into the Hall of Fame Class of 2025, including Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia.

After being on the media ballot for nine years and not getting the required votes, Wagner reached the 75 percent needed in his final year of eligibility.

Wagner appeared in 853 games in his MLB career and held a 2.31 ERA with 422 saves and 1,196 strikeouts in 903.0 innings pitched.

He played the first nine years of his career for Houston and appeared in 464 games with 225 saves and 694 strikeouts in 504.1 innings.

The post Astros Make A Big Announcement About Billy Wagner appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/astros-make-a-big-announcement-about-billy-wagner/

 

[Houston Astros]

Insider Says It Appears That Astros May Lose Alex Bregman

(Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros have been one of the best teams in Major League Baseball since winning the World Series title in 2017.

After appearing in seven straight American League Championship Series, the Astros lost to the Detroit Tigers in the wild-card series in 2024, ending the streak.

The Astros lost one of their star players this offseason as they traded star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs.

While losing Tucker will likely hurt the team in 2025, they may take another hit as free agent third baseman Alex Bregman has still yet to sign with a team.

MLB Insider Chandler Rome revealed that the Astros may be on the verge of losing Bregman.

“During his address at the team’s annual media luncheon, Dana Brown twice spoke about Alex Bregman in the past tense, saying once that the team “lost Bregman.” Rome said via his personal ‘X’ account.

During his address at the team's annual media luncheon, Dana Brown twice spoke about Alex Bregman in the past tense, saying once that the team "lost Bregman."

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 4, 2025

Bregman came into the league in 2016 with the Astros and has played all nine seasons of his MLB career with the team.

In 2024, Bregman played in 145 games where he batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs, and a .768 OPS.

Rumors have been spreading about Bregman possibly joining his old teammate Tucker in Chicago with the Cubs, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

The Astros had an impressive streak of winning in the American League, but those years might be over if they lose both Tucker and Bregman this offseason.

It will be interesting to see how the Astros look in 2025 after an offseason that saw them lose at least one of their star players.

The post Insider Says It Appears That Astros May Lose Alex Bregman appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-says-it-appears-that-astros-may-lose-alex-bregman/

 

[Houston Astros]

Analyst Has A Strong Belief On Where Alex Bregman Will Sign

(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros made the postseason for the eighth straight season after finishing with a record of 88-73 and winning the American League West.

Although the Astros made the playoffs again, their streak of seven consecutive American League Championship Series appearances ended as they lost to the Detroit Tigers in the wild-card round.

The offseason has seen the Astros lose one of their best players as star outfielder Kyle Tucker was traded to the Chicago Cubs.

Another star player on the Astros could also be on a new team in 2025 as third baseman Alex Bregman remains unsigned for the 2025 season.

MLB Analyst Geoff Blum revealed his thoughts on where Bregman will end up signing.

“My gut is he comes back,” Geoff said via MLB Network on ‘X.’

"My gut is he comes back, he's the stick that stirs their drink inside that clubhouse."

– Geoff Blum on Alex Bregman pic.twitter.com/RM8X4WquYv

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 31, 2025

The Astros did sign a potential replacement for Bregman at third base as Isaac Paredes came over in the trade with the Cubs.

While Paredes could play third base, he could also potentially play second base with Jose Altuve moving to the outfield if Bregman were to return to the Astros like Blum believes he will.

Bregman came into the league in 2016 with the Astros and has played all nine seasons of his MLB career with the team.

In 2024, Bregman played in 145 games where he batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs, and a .768 OPS.

Bregman has been a key piece in this recent run of success for the Astros, and the team would likely want nothing more than to bring him back for the 2025 season.

The post Analyst Has A Strong Belief On Where Alex Bregman Will Sign appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/analyst-has-a-strong-belief-on-where-alex-bregman-will-sign-2/

 

[Houston Astros]

Astros Are Reportedly Pursuing 2 Free Agents

(Photo by Jason Behnken / Getty Images)

The Houston Astros made the playoffs for an eighth straight season after finishing with a record of 88-73 and winning the American League West.

Although the Astros made the playoffs again, they failed to make it eight straight American League Championship Series appearances as they lost to the Detroit Tigers in the wild-card round.

The offseason has seen the Astros trade outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs, but they also acquired some notable players, including first baseman Christian Walker and third baseman Isaac Paredes.

They don’t seem to be done as they are looking at two more free agents this offseason.

“The Astros are reportedly pursuing Jorge Polanco as the Alex Bregman sweepstakes continue on,” MLB Network wrote on X.

The Astros are reportedly pursuing Jorge Polanco as the Alex Bregman sweepstakes continue on. #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/Di4JStkpJH

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 28, 2025

The Astros appear to still want Bregman, who has played all nine years of his MLB career with the team.

However, they also are pursuing Polanco from the Seattle Mariners.

Polanco came into the league in 2014 with the Minnesota Twins and played 10 seasons for them until going to the Mariners in 2024.

Last season, he played 118 games and batted .213 with 16 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .651 OPS.

Though Bregman may be the Astros’ first choice, Polanco could be a backup plan if things don’t go the way they want.

In 2024, Bregman played 145 games and batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .768 OPS.

It will be interesting to see how things shake out with the Astros roster before the start of the 2025 season.

The post Astros Are Reportedly Pursuing 2 Free Agents appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/astros-are-reportedly-pursuing-2-free-agents/

 

[Houston Astros]

Jose Altuve Could Take On New Positional Role This Season

(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros have been among the best teams in the American League over the past few seasons.

After reaching seven consecutive American League Championship Series from 2017 to 2023, the Astros lost to the Detroit Tigers in the wild-card round in 2024.

The Astros’ roster will look slightly different in 2025 as they traded outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs.

In addition, Houston has yet to find out if third baseman Alex Bregman will be back in 2025, and if he does return, things could look different for second baseman Jose Altuve.

“Dane Brown says Jose Altuve could split time between second base and left field this season for the Astros,” Chandler Rome of The Athletic wrote, via B/R Walk-Off.

Dana Brown says Jose Altuve could split time between second base and left field this season for the Astros

(via @Chandler_Rome) pic.twitter.com/WEv2PsGagS

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) January 28, 2025

If Bregman were to return to the Astros in 2025, Altuve could get moved to the outfield as newly acquired Isaac Paredes might have to play second base.

While the move of Altuve to the outfield only appears possible if Bregman returns, it will be a new-look roster for Astros fans nonetheless.

Altuve has played all 14 seasons of his MLB career with the team.

In 2024, he played in 153 games and batted .295 with 20 home runs, 65 RBIs and a .790 OPS.

The former AL MVP has been a staple in the Astros lineup for many seasons, and he is a big reason they have been so successful in recent years.

The post Jose Altuve Could Take On New Positional Role This Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/jose-altuve-could-take-on-new-positional-role-this-season/

 

[Houston Astros]

Billy Wagner Reveals Why He Is Entering Hall Of Fame With Astros

(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The Major League Baseball offseason has held the interest of many fans after multiple big-name players have signed with new teams via free agency or have been involved in trades.

While current players prepare for the 2025 season, some former players also had an exciting offseason as the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame class was announced.

The three players who were inducted in 2025 include Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia, who were inducted in their first year on the ballot, and Billy Wagner, who was inducted in his final possible year on the ballot.

Wagner received 82.5 percent of the votes to get inducted, and he revealed why he is entering the Hall of Fame with the Houston Astros.

“The Astros were where I first came in, I am definitely vested in the Astros with my kids being born there,” Wagner said via MLB Network on ‘X.’

.@BillyWagner1313 explains why he will enter the @baseballhall as a member of the @astros

pic.twitter.com/3cVD9ugsQZ

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 25, 2025

Along with Wagner coming into the MLB with the Astros, he also says that his two greatest teammates were Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, so he followed their lead and entered the Hall of Fame as an Astro.

Wagner came into the league with the Astros in 1995 where he played nine seasons before also playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves.

In his 16-season career, Wagner appeared in 853 games where he held a record of 47-40 with a 2.31 ERA, 422 saves, and 1,196 strikeouts in 903.0 innings pitched.

Wagner will likely enjoy the next few weeks as the reality of being a Baseball Hall of Famer sinks in.

The post Billy Wagner Reveals Why He Is Entering Hall Of Fame With Astros appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/billy-wagner-reveals-why-he-is-entering-hall-of-fame-with-astros/

 

[Houston Astros]

Framber Valdez Leads An Impressive Stat Since 2020

(Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros made the postseason for the eighth straight season after winning the American League West Division for the fourth straight year and finishing with a record of 88-73.

Although the Astros made the playoffs again, their streak of seven straight American League Championship Series appearances came to an end as they were swept in the wild-card round by the Detroit Tigers.

The offseason has seen the Astros part ways with a few key players including starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, starting pitcher Justin Verlander, and outfielder Kyle Tucker.

Although the Astros lost a couple of key starting pitchers, they still have Framber Valdez, who has led the MLB in an impressive statistic since 2020.

According to MLB on ‘X,’ Valdez leads the league in wins since 2020 with 60.

All he does is win

pic.twitter.com/CFHke84UHH

— MLB (@MLB) January 26, 2025

Valdez has the most wins in the MLB since 2020, and he is ahead of other star pitchers such as Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees, Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Chris Bassitt of the Toronto Blue Jays.

It makes getting wins easier for a starting pitcher when the offense can put up runs like the Astros have over the years, but Valdez has been great in his own right as well.

Valdez came into the league in 2018 with the Astros and has played all seven seasons of his career with the team.

In 2024, Valdez started 28 games where he held a record of 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 176.1 innings pitched.

The 15-win season was Valdez’s second-highest total in his career, and he will look to build off of the successful 2024 season in 2025.

The post Framber Valdez Leads An Impressive Stat Since 2020 appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/framber-valdez-leads-an-impressive-stat-since-2020/

 

[Houston Astros]

Insider Makes Big Prediction About Alex Bregman’s Future

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros continued to dominate the American League West division as they won the division title for the fourth straight year and the seventh time in the last eight seasons.

After finishing with a record of 88-73, the Astros failed to reach the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016 after being swept by the Detroit Tigers in the wild-card series.

The offseason has seen the Astros part ways with Justin Verlander, Yusei Kikuchi, and Kyle Tucker while acquiring Christian Walker, Isaac Paredes, and Hayden Wesneski.

One player the Astros are waiting to hear from is free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, who has yet to sign with a team for the 2025 season.

MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal revealed where he believes Bregman will play in 2025.

“If I had to bet right now, I would bet the Astros in this negotiation,” Rosenthal said via Foul Territory on ‘X.’

"I would bet the Astros in this negotiation."@Ken_Rosenthal predicts Alex Bregman will return to Houston. pic.twitter.com/vQnBLcdTrF

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 26, 2025

Rosenthal revealed that Astros second baseman Jose Altuve said he would move to left field if Bregman was to return to the team as Altuve wants Bregman on the Astros.

Bregman came into the league in 2016 with the Astros and has played all nine seasons of his MLB career with the team.

In 2024, Bregman played in 145 games where he batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs, and a .768 OPS.

The Astros and their fans likely want Bregman back as he has been a key player for the team over their recent run of success.

It will be interesting to see if the Astros can get a deal done with Bregman before the 2025 season begins.

The post Insider Makes Big Prediction About Alex Bregman’s Future appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-makes-big-prediction-about-alex-bregmans-future/

 

[Houston Astros]

Alex Bregman Has ‘Serious Offers’ From Multiple Teams

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The Major League Baseball offseason has seen multiple big-name players change teams via trade or free agency.

Some of the superstars to move include Juan Soto going to the New York Mets, Kyle Tucker going to the Chicago Cubs, and Corbin Burnes going to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With spring training right around the corner, third baseman Alex Bregman remains unsigned, but one insider said the Houston Astros star is drawing interest and a return hasn’t been ruled out.

“The Houston Astros are keeping the door ajar for free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman to return, but are not optimistic. Bregman has serious offers from at least two teams,” Bob Nightengale wrote on X.

The Houston Astros are keeping the door ajar for free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman to return, but are not optimistic. Bregman has serious offers from at least 2 teams.
If the Astros pulled it off, Bregman could stay at 3B, Isaac Paredes move to 2B and Jose Altuve move to LF.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 23, 2025

Bregman has played all nine seasons of his MLB career with the Astros.

In 2024, he played in 145 games and batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .768 OPS.

Although Nightengale doesn’t name the two teams that have made an offer to Bregman, the deals are likely close to the amount and duration of a contract that he is looking for.

Bregman will be a name to keep an eye on as the offseason winds down as he is likely the biggest star who remains unsigned to this point.

The Astros could have to adapt to life after Bregman if he decides to sign elsewhere.

The post Alex Bregman Has ‘Serious Offers’ From Multiple Teams appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/alex-bregman-has-serious-offers-from-multiple-teams/

 

[Houston Astros]

Astros Notes: Altuve, Smith, Walker, McCullers

Earlier this week, Astros manager Joe Espada told the Houston beat that Jose Altuve would play the “majority” of his games in left field. The second-year skipper walked that back a bit on Friday, indicating that the team’s position player mix remains unsettled.

“I’m not committed to Altuve being the everyday left fielder nor any X player being the everyday second baseman,” Espada said (relayed by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com). “We are exploring all our options here and we’ll make those decisions when we get towards the end of camp.”

Altuve has gotten the bulk of his Spring Training work in left field. That’s likely to continue as the Astros try to build his outfield reps. While Espada’s most recent comments leave the door open for the nine-time All-Star to return to second base, it still seems likely that Altuve will remain the team’s primary left fielder. That’d leave the keystone to Mauricio Dubón. Houston added former Rockies’ Gold Glove winner Brendan Rodgers on a minor league deal. He could also play second base if the Astros want to bounce Dubón around the diamond.

There’s an outside possibility of top prospect Cam Smith factoring into the infield mix before long. Selected 14th overall by the Cubs last summer, Smith went to Houston alongside Isaac Paredes and Hayden Wesneski in the Kyle Tucker blockbuster. Smith has all of 32 professional games under his belt, only five of which have come above High-A. Though he’s likely to begin the season in the minor leagues, the 22-year-old has turned some heads in his first Spring Training. Smith is 7-11 with a pair of homers in exhibition play. He has drawn four walks while striking out just once.

Chandler Rome of The Athletic examined the possibility of Smith breaking camp with the MLB team. Rome notes that the Astros promoted 2023 third-round pick Jake Bloss last June, less than one calendar year from his draft date. (Bloss was traded to Toronto in the Yusei Kikuchi deal a month later.) Bloss, a right-handed pitcher, had started eight games in Double-A and jumped from there to the big leagues. Carrying Smith on the Opening Day roster would be a bolder move, as he has almost no experience facing upper minors pitching.

Smith is a natural third baseman. That’s the position he played at Florida State and where he saw all of his defensive innings in the Chicago system. Rome writes that the Astros would like to get him some work in right field (in addition to third base) in the minor leagues. Houston’s outfield is arguably its biggest weakness. Altuve will probably have some growing pains defensively if the Astros use him as their primary left fielder. Center fielder Jake Meyers is unlikely to provide much offensively. Chas McCormick is looking to rebound from the worst season of his career in right field. If McCormick struggles for a second consecutive year, right field would be a target for midseason upgrade. The Astros would presumably want Smith to have some minor league experience there before considering him a candidate for outfield work at Daikin Park.

At the same time, they’re also facing a potential injury absence on the infield dirt. Christian Walker went for imaging after reporting soreness in his left oblique. Espada provided an encouraging update on Friday, saying that the MRI didn’t reveal any kind of strain (link via McTaggart). The Astros intend to gradually ease him back into game action.

Smith’s path to breaking camp may be conditional on Walker opening the season on the injured list. That’d leave first base to a combination of Jon Singleton and Zach Dezenzo unless the Astros wanted to slide Paredes across the diamond and install Smith at the hot corner. Espada didn’t commit to Walker being ready for Opening Day, but the lack of a strain seems to leave that as a possibility.

Espada provided one other injury update of note. Lance McCullers Jr. got through a live batting practice session this afternoon without issue (via Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle). The righty is expected to get into game action in the near future. That’ll be a big step for McCullers, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since the 2022 World Series. The Astros have already announced that he’ll begin the season on the injured list as he returns from June ’23 flexor surgery. If McCullers gets into Spring Training action, he could be ready to return from the IL within the first few weeks of the regular season.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/astros-notes-altuve-smith-walker-mccullers.html

 

[Houston Astros]

Astros, Jalen Beeks Agree To Minor League Deal

The Astros are in agreement with lefty reliever Jalen Beeks, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. It’s a minor league contract, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic.

Beeks divided the ’24 season between the Rockies and Pirates. He tossed 71 innings of 4.50 ERA ball between the two clubs. Beeks carried a 4.74 mark over 49 1/3 frames for Colorado. The Rox flipped him to Pittsburgh at the deadline for minor league reliever Luis Peralta. The 31-year-old southpaw managed decent production for the Bucs. He turned in a 3.92 ERA with three holds and a save across 20 2/3 innings.

However, Beeks’ strikeout rate trended down for the fourth consecutive season. He punched out 32.1% of opponents as a member of the Rays in the shortened 2020 season. Beeks missed all of ’21 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but he returned to post a 28% strikeout rate over 61 innings in 2022. That fell to 24.5% the next season and dropped to a well below-average 17.6% mark last year. The trade didn’t help in that regard. Beeks had run an 18% strikeout rate with Colorado and fanned 16.8% of opposing hitters in Pittsburgh.

Beeks still throws reasonably hard. His fastball averaged 94.5 MPH last season. That’s in line with where it has landed since his surgery. He leaned more heavily on the pitch at the expense of his changeup and cutter last year. Beeks did a decent job limiting hard contact on all three pitches, but he only missed bats effectively with the changeup.

Houston spent a few years operating without many left-handers in their bullpen. Josh Hader will close, leaving the lefty middle relief group rather thin. The Astros let deadline pickup Caleb Ferguson depart in free agency to the Pirates. That leaves Bryan King and Bennett Sousa as the only other lefty relievers on the 40-man roster. Beeks joins Steven Okert and Blake Weiman as non-roster southpaws in camp.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/astros-jalen-beeks-agree-to-deal.html

 

[Houston Astros]

Injury Notes: Jordan Walker, Christian Walker, Topa

The Cardinals got good news on Jordan Walker this afternoon. An MRI revealed no structural damage in his left knee, manager Oli Marmol told reporters (including John Denton of MLB.com). Walker is dealing with inflammation that’ll shut him down for around a week, but there’s nothing to suggest this’ll be a serious issue. It would have been a freak injury, as the young outfielder felt the discomfort after stepping on a sprinkler head while tracking a fly ball during Tuesday’s game.

With three weeks until Opening Day, it seems the 22-year-old will be on track for the start of the regular season. He’s in line to work as the everyday right fielder. The former top prospect has yet to develop into the impact hitter that many evaluators believe he could become. Walker has turned in a .255/.317/.423 slash in 643 career plate appearances. That includes a .210/.253/.366 line over 51 MLB games last season. He had pedestrian numbers (.263/.326/.427 over 377 PAs) in Triple-A as well. Walker is young enough that this isn’t yet a make-or-break season, but the Cards’ transitional year should give him an extended opportunity to cement himself.

A couple other health updates from around baseball:

• Christian Walker felt soreness in his left oblique during batting practice before the Astros game on Wednesday, manager Joe Espada told the beat (relayed by MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart). He’s day to day for the moment, but the team will know more tomorrow after further testing. Any kind of strain would make a season-opening injured list stint likely. Walker was Houston’s big free agent pickup, inking a three-year deal that guarantees $60MM. He’s coming off his third consecutive Gold Glove win and hit .251/.335/.468 with 26 homers over 552 plate appearances during his final season in Arizona. If Walker misses time, Jon Singleton would get the bulk of the first base reps. Righty-hitting Zach Dezenzo could take some at-bats against lefty pitching in that situation.
• Twins reliever Justin Topa has had unfortunate injury luck for most of his career. He has undergone two Tommy John procedures and a flexor tendon surgery. A patellar tendon issue in his left knee limited him to three MLB appearances last season. Topa is now dealing with shoulder discomfort, writes Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star-Tribune. Minnesota lifted the righty from Wednesday’s game after seven pitches when Topa reported shoulder tightness. Manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters that the pitcher wasn’t overly concerned, so it’ll hopefully be a precautionary removal, but he’ll go for further testing tomorrow.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/injury-notes-jordan-walker-christian-walker-topa.html

 

[Houston Astros]

Offseason In Review: Houston Astros

The Astros lost one star in free agency while trading away another. They're moving their longtime second baseman to left field. It'll be a different team, one they hope will remain a top AL contender in the short term while avoiding a true rebuild in the second half of this decade.

Major League Signings

• 1B Christian Walker: Three years, $60MM
• LF Ben Gamel: One year, $1.2MM (only $200K guaranteed)

2025 spending: $21.2MM
Total spending: $62.2MM

Option Decisions

• None

Trades and Claims

• Acquired LF Taylor Trammell from Yankees for cash
• Traded RF Kyle Tucker to Cubs for 3B Isaac Paredes, RHP Hayden Wesneski and minor league 3B Cam Smith
• Traded SS Grae Kessinger to Diamondbacks for minor league RHP Matthew Linskey
• Traded RHP Ryan Pressly and cash ($5.5MM) to Cubs for minor league RHP Juan Bello

Notable Minor League Signings

• Miguel Castro, Luis Guillorme, Joe Hudson, Steven Okert, Brendan Rodgers, Zack Short

Extensions

• None

Notable Losses

• Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander, Yusei Kikuchi, Ryan Pressly, José Urquidy (non-tendered), Caleb Ferguson, Héctor Neris, Jason Heyward, Kendall Graveman, Seth Martinez (via waivers), Penn Murfee (via waivers), Grae Kessinger, Trey Cabbage (via waivers)

The Astros are seeking their ninth consecutive playoff berth. Houston's incredible run of seven straight trips to the ALCS came to an end, but they still cruised to an AL West title after a ghastly start to the '24 campaign. The contention window certainly hasn't closed, but the front office had its work cut out for them this winter.

Alex Bregman's free agency was the most immediate challenge. Houston has spent up to and occasionally beyond the luxury tax line under owner Jim Crane. They're willing to spend, but that has come with the general caveat that they're not keen on offering long-term contracts. Houston had already allowed George Springer and Carlos Correa to walk in free agency. How much urgency would they show with Bregman?

The Astros made some effort to retain their longtime third baseman. They reportedly offered a six-year, $156MM proposal early in the winter. Bregman remained in pursuit of a contract closer to $200MM. While Houston left the offer on the table, the front office began turning its attention elsewhere when there was no progress towards a deal within the offseason's first six weeks.

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Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/offseason-in-review-houston-astros-16.html

 

[Houston Astros]

Espada: Astros Plan For Altuve To Spend “Majority” Of Time In Left Field

The concept of Jose Altuve moving from second base to left field first emerged when the Astros reengaged with Alex Bregman late in the offseason. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported at the time that there were talks of re-signing Bregman, sliding Isaac Paredes from third base to second base and shifting Altuve to the outfield. Many initially took that with a heavy dose of skepticism; Altuve, after all, has played all of six major league innings at a position other than second base — and they were all at shortstop.

As Houston brass continued to paint a Bregman reunion as a long shot, however, they kept getting Altuve work in left field. Both manager Joe Espada and GM Dana Brown spoke about wanting to get some looks at Altuve in left and wanting to reduce Yordan Alvarez’s time on the outfield grass. Even when Bregman signed in Boston, the Altuve/left field experiment continued to progress.

The position change seems less like an experiment and more like a reality by the day, and Espada’s latest comments only further that shift. Speaking to the Astros beat this morning, Espada left open the door for Altuve to get some playing time at second base but also suggested it will no longer be his primary position (via Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle).

“Right now, the plan is for [Altuve] to play the majority of his games in left field,” Espada stated. “The days that he plays second base opens the door for [Alvarez] maybe getting a start in left field, someone getting a DH day. So this move allows us to be creative and do stuff like that.”

Espada added that frequently shuttling Altuve back-and-forth between the two positions “is something that I am going to avoid.” The second-year manager stopped short of outright proclaiming Altuve the Astros’ new everyday left fielder, but it certainly seems things are trending in that direction.

Altuve is a former Gold Glove winner at second base, but his defense has declined considerably as he’s entered his mid-30s. Defensive Runs Saved has pegged him at -13 or worse in each of the past three seasons. Statcast’s Outs Above Average isn’t as down on Altuve’s glovework during that three-year period but does agree he’s been a negative since 2023, including a particularly rough -8 mark in 2024.

That’s problematic in and of itself, but it’s particularly egregious when Houston has one of the best second base defenders in the sport (statistically speaking) on its roster already. Mauricio Dubon hasn’t even logged a full season’s worth of second base innings in his career, but in 1154 frames at the position he’s been credited with 12 DRS and 8 OAA. The Astros also inked longtime Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers, another plus defender at second base, to a minor league deal and invited him to camp.

At the very least, when ground-ball pitchers like Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown are starting games — Valdez is the top ground-ball starter in the sport over the past three seasons — it makes sense to have a superior defender in there. Either Dubon or Rodgers would fit the bill. Espada’s comments make it sound like Altuve is being pushed to left field more frequently than that, however.

Houston’s decidedly lackluster outfield mix is surely a factor as well. Owner Jim Crane seemed determined to dip under the luxury tax threshold after paying the tax in 2024, and as a result the outfield looks thinner than at any point in recent memory. The Astros traded their final season of control over Kyle Tucker to the Cubs in a deal netting new third baseman Isaac Paredes, rotation candidate Hayden Wesneski and new top prospect Cam Smith. With Tucker gone and Alvarez ticketed for more DH time in ’25, Altuve joins a mix of Jake Meyers, Chas McCormick and free agent signee Ben Gamel in the outfield. There are still a handful of interesting free agents out there — David Peralta or Alex Verdugo could fit the ’Stros — but Crane’s preference is to remain south of the $241MM tax threshold; the Astros are currently at $236.8MM, per RosterResource.

If Altuve’s outfield move yields early dividends, it’s easy enough to see it becoming a permanent arrangement. The nine-time All-Star is entering the first season of a five-year, $125MM extension signed 13 months ago. He’s owed $30MM each year from 2025-27 before his salary greatly reduces to $10MM per season in 2028-29. That extension also came with a $15MM upfront signing bonus that has already been paid out.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/jose-altuve-majority-time-left-field-astros-joe-espada.html

 

[Houston Astros]

Astros Notes: Dubin, Leon, Ort, Trammell

The Astros are dealing with a handful of injuries to depth players in camp. Manager Joe Espada told reporters this morning that reliever Shawn Dubin is battling shoulder inflammation. Meanwhile, young outfielder Pedro León sustained a strained MCL in his left knee (relayed by Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle).

While there’s no suggestion of surgery for either player, it seems they’ll each be in for notable absences. Both injuries figure to force them to begin the season on the injured list. Houston also took hits to their bullpen and outfield depth late last week. Chandler Rome of The Athletic wrote on Friday that righty reliever Kaleb Ort was battling a left oblique issue. Meanwhile, outfielder Taylor Trammell suffered what appears to be a significant right calf strain (per the MLB.com injury tracker).

In isolation, none of those injuries represents a huge blow. León has appeared in seven major league games. He’s likely to start the season with Triple-A Sugar Land once he’s healthy. The former highly-regarded prospect hit 24 homers and stole 29 bases in the minors last season. That came with an elevated 27% strikeout rate. As he enters his age-27 season, he’s unlikely to take a big step forward with his plate discipline. Baseball America ranked him the #18 prospect in a weak Houston farm system. BA writes that León projects as a depth outfielder whose power and speed are undercut by the swing-and-miss issues and fringe outfield defense.

This is a big camp for each of Dubin, Ort and Trammell. All three have exhausted their minor league options. They need to stick on the major league roster (or injured list) or be exposed to waivers. Dubin tossed 45 1/3 frames in a multi-inning relief role last year. He pitched to a 4.17 ERA with solid strikeout (23.7%) and ground-ball (46.5%) rates, but he walked almost 13% of batters faced. The Astros used him mostly in low-leverage relief.

Ort, 33, was a waiver claim from Baltimore last May. He pitched well in 22 big league appearances, working to a 2.55 ERA behind a 28% strikeout rate across 24 2/3 frames. Ort had entered the season with a career earned run average north of 6.00, but he probably showed enough in his relatively small sample with Houston to stick in middle relief. He’s a power arm who can miss bats but had inconsistent control in the minors.

Houston acquired Trammell in a minor league trade with the Yankees at the start of the offseason. The Astros added him to their 40-man roster to keep him from qualifying for minor league free agency. A former top prospect, Trammell has only hit .167/.270/.363 over 126 major league games. He had an impressive .256/.381/.488 line in Triple-A with the Yankees last year. As with León, that came with an alarming number of strikeouts (a 26.8% rate). Houston spent most of the offseason looking for lefty-hitting outfield help after the Kyle Tucker trade. Their only move was to bring back Ben Gamel on a non-guaranteed contract. Trammell and Gamel might battle for one roster spot, espeically with Jose Altuve seeing time in left field.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/astros-notes-dubin-leon-ort-trammell.html

 

[Houston Astros]

Poll: Will The Astros Add Another Bat?

Over the weekend, it was reported that the Astros circled back to Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado in trade talks after longtime third baseman Alex Bregman officially departed the club to sign with the Red Sox. Those renewed conversations surrounding Arenado don’t appear likely to result in a deal as things stand, but they do demonstrate a clear desire on the part of Astros brass to improve upon an offense that lost both Bregman and star outfielder Kyle Tucker this winter.

It’s not hard to see why Houston would like to upgrade their lineup. Among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances for the club last year, Tucker led the way with a sensational 181 wRC+ while Bregman ranked fourth with a figure of 118. As important as both players were, it’s fair to point out the club has a number of successful hitters still in the fold: Yordan Alvarez (168 wRC+) and Jose Altuve (127 wRC+) put up excellent numbers last year, and the catcher position remains strong with Yainer Diaz (117 wRC+) and Victor Caratini (113 wRC+).

Still, the combination of Alvarez, Altuve, Diaz, and Caratini cover just three spots in the lineup. The quartet do not figure to be in the same lineup very often this year, particularly now that Altuve is slated to play left field on at least a semi-frequent basis in order to keep Alvarez at DH, thereby stopping manager Joe Espada from penciling Diaz or Caratini in at DH on days when the other catching. Offseason additions of Isaac Paredes (117 wRC+) and Christian Walker (119 wRC+) should help to keep things afloat, with Paredes in particular projecting to serve as a near perfect replacement for Bregman with the bat despite his shortcomings on defense.

The Astros have a solid offensive nucleus, but their lineup figures to include several below-average hitters this year and sorely miss the offensive contributions Tucker has offered throughout his career. Without Tucker, the club’s entire projected outfield mix is questionable. Center fielder Jake Meyers is a career .228/.292/.371 (87 wRC+) hitter whose 2024 numbers were right in line with that production. Ben Gamel posted a 115 wRC+ last year, but that came in just 99 plate appearances and was his first above average offensive season since 2018. Chas McCormick has shown some solid potential with the bat in the past, but he’s coming off a career-worst campaign where he hit just .211/.271/.306 (66 wRC+). He’s also struggled to produce against right-handed pitching even in his more successful seasons.

The introduction of Altuve to the club’s left field mix should help to add some pop to the outfield, but the leading candidates to take over for him at second base are Mauricio Dubon and Brendan Rodgers. Both have six seasons in the majors, and neither has posted an above-average offensive season. What’s more, the departure of Tucker and Jon Singleton’s move to the bench leaves Alvarez as the club’s only lefty swinging regular, unless the club turns to Gamel for everyday reps. It seems clear that the Astros would benefit from adding another hitter to the mix — ideally a lefty.

The problem, however, is that very few options remain available in free agency, and even fewer of them are left-handed. Alex Verdugo has plenty of experience in left field and is perhaps the best left-handed bat still available, but he’s coming off a career-worst season. David Peralta is coming off a solid season in a part-time role with the Padres last year but is headed into his age-37 campaign. In terms of potential infielders, part-time players like Jose Iglesias and Whit Merrifield are not only right-handed, but also provide little over internal options like Dubon and Rodgers.

Perhaps there’s a trade to be worked out, even as swinging a deal for Arenado remains unlikely. The Twins have been rumored to be getting calls on utility man Willi Castro this winter, and a switch-hitter capable of playing both the infield and outfield seems like an ideal fit. Meanwhile, Tigers infielder Zach McKinstry and Mets infielder Brett Baty are two lefty bats currently on the bubble of their club’s 26-man roster.

In the case of a Castro trade or even a signing like Verdugo, money might also be a complicating factor. Reports have generally described the Astros’ budget as close to maxed out, with high-dollar moves like signing Bregman or trading for Arenado likely to require a greenlight from ownership. While it’s unclear exactly how much wiggle room Houston’s front office has, it appeared telling that GM Dana Brown indicated earlier this month that he sees an external addition of note as unlikely. With limited options still available and a seemingly limited budget to work with, perhaps the Astros will simply enter the season with their current roster unless a veteran opting out of a minor league deal or a player placed on the waiver wire in the run-up to Opening Day creates an opportunity.

Do MLBTR readers think the Astros will address their offense further before the season begins, or enter the 2025 season with what they have? Have your say in the poll below!

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Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/poll-will-the-astros-add-another-bat.html

 

[Houston Astros]

“No Traction” Between Cardinals, Astros In Nolan Arenado Talks

While a report earlier today revealed that the Cardinals and Astros have resumed discussions regarding veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado, a report from Chandler Rome and Katie Woo of The Athletic this evening has cast doubt on the likelihood of a deal coming together. According to Rome and Woo, although the sides did re-engage about Arenado in the aftermath of Alex Bregman signing with the Red Sox, those renewed discussions were “brief” and that there has been no traction gained on a deal between the sides. Rome and Woo add that Arenado’s stance on waiving his no-trade clause to join the Astros has not changed to this point.

The report meshes with comments from president of baseball operations John Mozeliak earlier today, in which he suggested to reporters that he didn’t feel anything was “imminent” regarding Arenado. Rome and Woo go on to relay that sources described the possibility of a deal coming together between the two teams as a “long shot,” adding that a deal the sides discussed involving Arenado was considered a “non-starter.” Given that description of talks between the two sides, it’s not entirely clear if Arenado has been approached by St. Louis brass about the possibility of approving a trade to Houston since the Astros tried to reignite talks or if discussions between the sides did not advance far enough for Mozeliak to even broach the subject with his veteran star.

Even when Arenado first blocked a trade to Houston back in December, reporting was quick to emphasize that Arenado’s reluctance to approve the trade was not necessarily a final decision and that he was hoping to survey his own market as well as see how the Astros planned to improve the club after trading star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs just before Arenado vetoed a prospective move to Houston. Now that Bregman has landed in Boston, the Red Sox join the Padres and Dodgers as unlikely landing spots for the veteran due to their full infield mixes. The Yankees have a clear hole at third base Arenado could step into fairly seamlessly, but talks between the Bronx and St. Louis have failed to gain traction due to New York’s unwillingness to spend much beyond their current payroll projection.

That leaves the Astros as the final team reportedly on Arenado’s initial list of approved suitors as things stand. It’s possible that the lack of clear alternative options, in tandem with the Astros’ addition of Christian Walker to their infield mix, would be enough to convince Arenado to approve a trade to Houston. At the same time, it’s entirely possible that Arenado would prefer to play the first half of the season out in St. Louis at this point before both he and Mozeliak reassess the situation over the summer, when St. Louis’s position in an unsettled NL Central division will be more clear and Arenado will have a more concrete idea of which clubs are contenders for the coming postseason.

Rome and Woo go on to note that the Astros’ latest push to swing a deal for Arenado highlights the questions surrounding the Astros’ lineup at this point. Longtime second baseman Jose Altuve appears to be moving towards playing left field at least on a part-time basis, though a trade for Arenado would be expected to make the veteran a full-time presence in left while Isaac Paredes slides from third base to second to accommodate Arenado. Should Altuve end up moving to left field for the majority of his reps this year, that leaves the club fairly thin around the infield with only Mauricio Dubon and non-roster invitees like Brendan Rodgers and Luis Guillorme available to play second base on days Altuve is in left and/or back up the rest of the club’s infield mix.

Even if Altuve were to remain at second base close to full time, however, it can be argued the club is still a bat short. Jake Meyers appears poised to be the club’s regular center fielder with Ben Gamel and Chas McCormick handling the outfield corners. Gamel and McCormick both feature significant platoon splits, however, and adding at least one part-time outfield bat to the mix seems prudent whether that’s the addition of Altuve to the outfield mix or an external addition should the veteran remain on the infield dirt.

Free agent options are relatively scarce at this point in the calendar, with Jose Iglesias and Whit Merrifield the best infield pieces still available while Alex Verdugo, Mark Canha, and David Peralta are among a handful of outfield options still on the market. It’s also possible the Astros could look for other alternatives on the trade market, though with rosters largely set for the coming season it’s unclear what players could still be available that would represent a substantial improvement for the club relative to their current situation.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025...-cardinals-astros-in-nolan-arenado-talks.html

 

[Houston Astros]

Cardinals, Astros Again Discussing Nolan Arenado Trade

4:03PM: While that Mozeliak initially declined to comment on any potential new trade talks or the possibility of Arenado approving a deal (as noted by Denton), he later told reporters (including Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) that he “does not feel like anything is imminent” regarding Arenado and that nothing has changed since the veteran third baseman reported to camp.

1:16PM: Nolan Arenado used his no-trade clause to veto a proposed trade to the Astros back in December, which seemingly ended the third baseman’s chances of going to Houston once the Astros pivoted to then add Christian Walker to their infield mix. However, just as it seemed the Cardinals’ chances of dealing Arenado this offseason had run out, St. Louis and Houston have re-engaged on a new set of talks on an Arenado trade, according to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, Mark Feinsand, and John Denton.

It would be quite a wild conclusion to one of the offseason’s top storylines if Arenado ended up in an Astros uniform after all, yet Houston’s increased willingness to move Jose Altuve from second base to left field may have created an opening for these fresh negotiations between the Astros and Cardinals. Arenado would take over from Isaac Paredes at third base, with Paredes then moving to Altuve’s old spot at second base. Reports of Altuve’s willingness to play left field emerged when the Astros were exploring the idea of re-signing Alex Bregman, and Altuve has been hard at work doing outfield drills in the early stages of Spring Training.

Astros manager Joe Espada has yet to make any firm statements about Altuve’s readiness as a left fielder, as Espada told reporters (including Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle) that it will still be another week before Altuve lines up in the outfield during spring game action. Still, it could be a sign of the Astros’ comfort level in Altuve’s outfield capability that the team is again looking into the possibility of an Arenado deal.

The ball is ultimately in Arenado’s court due to his no-trade protection, yet Houston was one of the five teams that Arenado told the Cardinals front office he was open to joining. The fact that Arenado rejected the earlier trade to Houston seems to have been just a matter of timing, as the offer apparently came just after the Astros dealt Kyle Tucker to the Cubs, and Arenado wanted a bit more time to evaluate the situation. Rather than continue to wait out Arenado’s decision, the Astros instead went out and signed Walker to a three-year, $60MM deal, which seemed to reinforce Walker and Paredes as the team’s new corner infield combo.

Houston was willing to disrupt that new status quo if it meant re-signing its longtime third baseman in Bregman, however, and the same could be true here if the Astros and Cardinals can find common ground on a trade, and if Arenado this time green-lights the proceedings. By the same measure, the Astros were willing to stretch their budget to accommodate Bregman’s return, and the same would have to be true if Arenado’s contract is acquired. Arenado is owed $74MM over the next three seasons, though that number is really $60MM when factoring in deferrals and the $10MM covered by the Rockies as per the terms of the original trade that sent Arenado from Colorado to St. Louis in the 2020-21 offseason.

In the previous trade offer, the Astros would have taken on $40MM-$45MM of Arenado’s still-owed salary, with the Cards eating the rest. It isn’t known if any type of significant prospects might have been included as well, but it could be that Houston was offering just a minimal player return since the Cardinals’ top priority was moving as much of Arenado’s salary as possible off the team’s books. Speculatively speaking, the Astros could be looking to still land Arenado but with the Cardinals absorbing a larger portion of the salary, perhaps leveraging the fact that the Cards are short on alternative options if they want to move Arenado at all.

Trading Arenado and gaining this salary relief has been the chief goal of the St. Louis offseason, yet Arenado’s limited list of suitors left president of baseball operations John Mozeliak without much of a plan B after the Astros trade was nixed. The Red Sox were another team on Arenado’s approval list, but their third base need was met when Boston signed Bregman. As the Cards’ spring camp opened, both Mozeliak and Arenado indicated that a trade now seemed unlikely and Arenado was probably going to start the season in St. Louis, so these late talks with Houston could be a Hail Mary development for both teams.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/cardinals-astros-again-discussing-nolan-arenado-trade.html