That makes a lot of sense. And I think the Astros want to make sure that they have as many arms available throughout the season that can contribute this year.
Just a quick thank you. Between posts like this, your WAR projections, the farm rankings, etc., you put a TON of work into adding quality content to the Board. My only complaint is that it makes local sports radio hard to listen to because the hosts know so much less than readers of this board! Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the kind words. This place is a relatively healthy distraction for me, so it’s a two way street. I know I am extremely active on this board; hopefully the ignore feature works well for anyone annoyed by my content and hopefully nothing I post discourages anyone else from contributing to the baseball discussion. Go stros.
Ah, it's much more civilized and useful than the Texans or Rockets side and it's because posters like @Snake Diggit, @Nook, @tellitlikeitis to name the Top 3 that make the difference.
There’s just a generally higher level of knowledge on this board than others I’ve seen. I was posting on Crawfish Boxes back in the day but the stupidity of their average commenter became intolerable. The Astros Reddit thread is very hit or miss. There are exceptions of course, but by and large almost every regular commenter here consistently has a pretty reasonable take. And yes having someone as knowledgeable as tellit and a legit insider like nook certainly makes this board uniquely cool.
Why would anyone interested in Astros content ignore you, that would be insane. We come here to read what guys like you have to say!
The Stros want him to ditch some of his 6 skills and focus on what he's best at: mop and floor buffer
I don’t understand blubaugh not basically being pencilled in to start and Ullola as a bullpen guy at a minimum come May or June when there’s no eligibility issues with losing a season.
I love Arrighetti. I think he’s going to be really good. I think we missed stealing another season from him by like 5 days. He has options. He needs to start in the minors until the first injury or bad LmJ performance leads us to dfa him.
In a vacuum I’d trade Orna, Matthews, Meyers, king for your suggested return. If the Astros weren’t looking like a true WS contender at the deadline I’d absolutely open up to offers on Yordan (if he’s healthy and reestablished himself) Hunter Brown and I’d go ask Hader about waiving his no trade if we were going that direction and see what I could get for him if I sent $40M out with him. Paredes would be damn near an auto trade at the deadline for me if we limp in and look like crap. Actually I might offer him something like a 7 year 150M extension option and then trade him if he said no. Nothing on the other
At least early on, options will be a big factor in who is in the rotation. Brown is a no-brainer and hands down ACE. Imai and Burrows will have a spot until they prove they don't belong because of the team's investment in them. Javier and McCullers make big $$$ and have no options so will also get spots until they falter. That leaves 1 rotation spot. Nate Pearson was signed as a starter and will be stretched out and given a chance to win that spot. He likely ends up in the bullpen but is out of options so makes the team either way. Weiss, Arrighetti, Blubaugh, Alexander, Gordon, Ullola, and Teng are all SP who have options remaining. Some may be considered for the bullpen but it is possible that if Pearson impresses in ST they all start in Sugar Land. With a 6 man rotation, that leaves a 7 man bullpen. Hader, Okert, Abreu, and King have earned spots on the opening day roster based on 2025. I would include Sousa also but there are simply too few spots and he has options. For some unknown reason, they love De Los Santos and he has no options so I expect him to have a spot. Roddery Munoz is a rule 5 pick who must make the team or be returned, so he has a leg up on everyone else. That leaves 1 spot for Sousa, Murray, and all the guys who miss out on a rotation spot. The fight for the final 2-3 roster spots for pitchers is going to be brutal. My prediction: Rotation: Brown, Imai, Javier, Burrows, McCullers, Weiss. Bullpen: Hader, Abreu, Okert, King, De Los Santos, Pearson, Blubaugh. Munoz returned to the Reds. AAA: Arrighetti, Alexander, Gordon, Ullola, Teng, Sousa, and Murray
Especially when you add in Pecko, who I like more than Arrighetti and Ullola. Unless there are guys hurt that we don’t know about, the AAA pitching depth in 2026 should be among the best Houston has ever had. Went back and looked, and from 2017-2025, I think the best AAA pitching staff was 2022. Brown, France, Solomon, Bielak, Dubin, Enoli Paredes, Nick Hernandez, Ronel Blanco, Whitley.
This has to be very close, baring injuries. One quibble: Sousa over De Los Santos ... De Los Santos has shown nothing yet to me to win a spot ... but you are right ... the Astros brain trust are acting like he is a lock. Maybe the plan all along was to sign De Los Santos late last season and see what Miller could do with him until end of ST? There will be injuries. In recent memory, the Astros break ST camp with one or more pitchers on IL.
I think McCullers is cooked and will either be placed on the 60 day IL or bought out of his contract before the season starts. I also think Houston will give Munoz at least into the first month of the season to see if he can stick. So my prediction: SP: Brown, Imai, Javier, Burrows, Arrighetti, Weiss RP: Hader, Abreu, King, Okert, Pearson, Munoz, De Los Santos Optioned: Blubaugh, Alexander, Gordon, Ullola, Teng, Sousa, Murray IL: Wesneski, Blanco, Walter, McCullers Of course injuries will render that prediction wildly inaccurate, and there will be at least one NRI who makes a strong case to be on the roster. One other note is that De Los Santos’ split contract probabiy actually makes him less likely to make the roster since it means he will be more likely to pass thru waivers.
I agree about De Los Santos. His numbers actually ended up terrible last year and he is an older pitcher with little to no upside remaining. I struggle with my "rule" of trusting the Astros pitching scouting and development in his case. In my opinion, not non-tendering him was the worst decision they made this off-season. I agree Sousa should have a spot locked up based on how he pitched last year, but there are too many arms, especially lefty arms and he can be optioned so he will.
Man, missing the playoffs has made this an excruciatingly long off season. Wife and I both life long fans, but with four kids and two start-ups we didn't become devoted until last kid graduated high school in 2015. Can't wait for our spring training trip.
I simply don't see a world where Lance is bought out or DFA'd before having a dozen or so starts. He has contributed greatly to 2 World Series trophies, is still young, and owed a pile of money. If it was August or September, it might be different but they will let him pitch in April and May. He is not suited for the bullpen, especially a shallow one supporting a 6 man rotation, so he will be starting if he's healthy. And is still only 32. He missed 2019 then had a mediocre 2020 before being the staff ace in 2022, despite Grienke and Framber there and healthy. Right now there is still SOME hope that he can be good in 2026 another year cremated from major surgery. But adding depth was smart. I'm not saying it will happen or that I'm confident, but the Astros won't give up on it before seeing for themselves.
