The Astros signed 2B Jax Biggers back on December 18. This move probably popped up recently. Biggers, who is from Missouri City, graduated from Ridge Point in 2015 and spent a year at Cisco Junior College before transferring to Arkansas, where the Rangers drafted him in the 8th round of the 2018 draft. The Rangers had been his only MLB organization until now. He'll most likely fill the Zack Short/Jesus Bastidas role (older infielder who spends the vast majority of the season in AAA) at Sugar Land. If he sees time in Houston, then multiple catastrophic events probably occurred in the Astros infield.
“Biggers is a compact, contact-oriented second baseman who’d be a 40 if he were more versatile.” -from the honorable mention section of last years Rangers prospect list on fangraphs. Seems a lot like Bastidas but with less power and more contact.
As soon as I saw that name I knew it was just a matter of minutes before you were gonna comment on it lol
Houston Astros: 2B Brice Matthews B/R Top 100 Rank: No. 96 Matthews saw two different stints with the big league club in 2025, hitting .167/.222/.452 with four home runs and 20 strikeouts in 47 plate appearances. Back at Triple-A, he posted a more promising .260/.371/.458 line with 18 doubles, 17 home runs, 64 RBI and 41 steals in 112 games. There's simply no path to the big leagues for him right now, with Jose Altuve and Isaac Paredes both potentially seeing time at second base. Opening Day Roster Chances: 10 percent
I disagree with their assessment. I think there’s a good chance Matthews makes the opening day roster as the primary backup at 2B and CF, also seeing time in LF. Those odds go down if Meyers isn’t traded.
I know the prospect ranking services never change their opinion in a timely manner, but from what I saw in their MLB PA's Cole is significantly closer to hitting MLB pitching than Matthews. They both strike out way too much, but Cole felt significantly more in control than Matthews who looked overmatched in a lot of his PA. He's also left handed and can play all 3 outfield spots well. Possibly well enough to unseat Meyers in a lot of games against RHP.
Why? Meyers was better against RHP than LHP last season and his career splits are not that pronounced. If Meyers is kept he should be the everyday CF, full stop. The corner OF spots is where they can deploy platoons and competition between Sanchez, Smith, Cole, Matthews, and Dezenzo; my guess is that Sanchez and Cole would win the everyday corner OF spots out of camp with Smith getting time in AAA to add a year of control and increase his odds of success when he comes back up, but eventually Smith would come up and be the everyday RF with Sanchez spotting every so often against tough RHP. Eventually if both Cole and Smith are going to be everyday players, one of Sanchez or Meyers has to go, because both guys are luxuries as bench players.
In another move that probably just popped up on the transactions page, the Astros signed RHP Christian Roa on December 20. Roa went to Memorial (the Spring Branch one) and Texas A&M. The Reds picked him in the 2nd round (48th overall) in 2020. He was pretty highly regarded in the Reds system but could never really put things together. He transitioned to relief in 2024, and the Marlins claimed him off waivers after the 2024 season. Roa spent most of 2025 in AAA and he went 10-2 with 2 saves and a 2.83 ERA in 50 appearances (60.1 IP total). He made his MLB debut on September 6 and made two scoreless appearances for the Marlins, allowing a hit, walking three, and striking out three in three innings.
I'm actually in between this. Meyers is the starter and should start 75-80% but not everyday. Meyers starts vs every LHSP Meyers starts whenever Yordan or Altuve is in LF Cole can start in CF if there is a RHSP on the mound and the LF and RF are both legitimate OFers who are average or better defensively.
You are probably right. I just want Smith starting every day and Cole getting as much of a chance as possible. I may be irrational, but I still think Cam is a star this upcoming year and Cole needs to be starting against RH pitching a hell of a lot.
It is easy to pencil in a platoon: LF: Yordan/Altuve CF: Meyers/Cole RF: Smith/Sanchez But we have rarely seen the Astros use platoons on the regular.
They haven't really had many lefthanded platoon worthy options which has felt like problem for a while now. Sanchez is a true platoon bat, and if they keep him there's no reason he shouldn't start just about every game vs. RHP (I suspect he will primarily be opposite Altuve in LF with Yordan cameos). If Cole earns the opening day nod, I would imagine he would get all the extra CF/RF reps.
I don't think you are irrational at all. I am at bit down on Cam from opening day last year, but still think he should be a star, but past year convinced me it probably takes some time. Give him more rest this season 450ish PAs and 3-5 weeks in AAA to work on swing and/or CF. Then give him the everyday job as a 24 yr old in 2027. 2+ All-star seasons and 17.5+ WAR over 5 seasons 2027-2031.
While I agree he should be the every day CF, he's definitely much better against LHP historically. I see Cole playing LF every day if he makes the team. And of course there will definitely be a trade if everyone looks good in Spring. We have lots of decent OF options, but no great ones, yet.
