My hope for the 2026 roster.. SS Pena LF Donovan 2B Altuve DH Alvarez 1B Paredes RF Smith 3B Correa C Diaz CF Meyers C Caratini UTIL Dubon Two spots for Cole, Melton, Dezenzo, Matthews SP Brown, Valdez, JV, Javier, Arrighetti or LMJ Pen Hader, Abreu, Okert, King, Sousa, Ort, Arrighetti or LMJ. Maybe another innings eater among Blanco, France, Wesneski, Blubaugh, etc or a one inning guy signing.
This team is slightly better than last year's squad and you are hoping for a lot of health when that hasn't been the case lately. They would easily miss the playoffs. Any lineup that has Altuve playing a defensive position is bad because you are losing 2/3 of his offensive value on defense. Also, Meyers sucks as an everyday player and you would have one of the weakest OFs in baseball again. The Astros will never do it, but they need to consider trading Alvarez to the Orioles or Red Sox, because both of those teams have a **** ton of MLB ready players with plenty of team control that the Astros could get back in return.
No to Verlander. No to starting the season with Melton or Cole in the OF. Verlander can’t really go more than 5 innings and that will tax the pen over the long haul. Even worse, he could be shelved for long stretches because he is like 44 years old. That would force us to go to unreliable AAA arms again.
I have agonized over this point for a couple of years. I have also flipped my thoughts multiple times. Right now I'm on the side: "You can never trade away a generational player" trade other players and figure it out. I would trade Pena for a Tucker-like return that includes an MLB ready or semi-established SS that has top 100 level talent. Not sure which team may have that but will look.
They "plan" for the Astros is to add one headline pitcher that can start a game 2 in the playoffs and can give 170-200 innings and then to sign/trade a secondary guy that is either dependable at eating innings but not great OR has warts but upside. Think of guys like Jordan Montgomery or any number of other guys. This is my guess but if the Astros were to add Rassmussen as their #2 starter - they would then probably target an innings eater as their other starter to add. I am sure part of why the Astros are so interested in Alcantara is because they think he can give them 200-230 innings of ball. Either way I think the innings concern is legitimate and no matter what else happens, the Astros would be smart to add a dependable innings eater. Chris Bassitt would fit what they are looking for if his contract is reasonable, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Zach Littell, Zach Eflin......
Available SP who can reasonably be counted on for 160+ ip next season: Framber Cease Gallen Suarez Eflin Bassitt King Kelly Verlander Littell Corbin Quintana Heaney Martinez Trade: Pablo Lopez Joe Ryan Mitch Keller Mackenzie Gore Sandy Alcantara Eduardo Rodriguez Luis Severino
If Verlander wants to come back, I think they will make it work. I just hope there’s some really good cake and he’s the icing. Sherzer was in a similar position this year. I would expect +\- 100 innings as a 4/5 pitcher. Between Lance and him - you might get to 180-200 innings. You can’t go wrong with too much pitching. (You can go wrong if he’s your number two). If you don’t have a solid number two, you don’t sign him - it’s kinda simple. If you don’t have a solid number two, might as well start selling assets.
They DFA'd Urias because 29 other teams refused to give ANYTHING for him. Neither Dubon nor Urias project to be positive vs arbitration salary. Matthews played some CF in AAA in September. He won't win a gold glove but he would be a menace as a pinch runner and pitchers would need to respect him at the plate. And he has 3 more seasons at MLB minimum salary.
It does make some sense to carve out robust bench roles for Matthews and Melton (and possibly Cole or Dezenzo) to help them get established. The versatility of the remaining veterans could allow them more flexibility in how they use their bench.
Would have preferred a mid prospect over Allen. But Allen makes less than a million I believe. So hopefully money saved goes towards something of use. Good luck to Dubon. Looks like Allen is decent at D(gold glove nominee) but bat seems bad.
