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J.P. France J.P. France Expands throwing to 90 feet
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 11:36 AM
France (shoulder) will expand his flat-ground throwing program to 90 feet Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Working his way back from surgery in July to repair a torn right shoulder capsule, France was clocked at 72-74 mph while throwing from 75 feet, which is on target for where he's supposed to be at this stage of his rehab. The right-hander is not expected back until at least the second half and might not be ready to be a real contributor for the Astros again until 2026. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Throwing off mound again
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 2:49 PM
McCullers (forearm/elbow) has resumed throwing off a mound and is hoping to return sometime early on in the 2025 season, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: McCullers had surgery in June of 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. After progressing to mound work in May, he had his throwing program halted and was ultimately shut down due to soreness in his pitching arm. Testing absolved him of structural damage and he's now back to throwing off the bump again, although it sounds like he's no given to be ready for Opening Day. McCullers last pitched in a major-league game during the 2022 World Series. |
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Framber Valdez Framber Valdez Earning $18 million in 2025
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 6:44 PM
Valdez and the Astros agreed to a one-year, $18 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Valdez is entering his final year of arbitration and will earn nearly $6 million more than he did in 2024. He's emerged as one of the more reliable pitchers around the league in recent seasons, posting no worse than a 3.45 ERA in any season since 2021. Valdez has also completed at least 176 innings in each of the last three campaigns. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Set to make $4.1 million
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 2:44 PM
Pena agreed to a one-year, $4.1 million contract with the Astros to avoid arbitration Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Pena will receive a nice raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility after serving as Houston's primary shortstop since making his debut in 2022. The 27-year-old posted 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases with a .266/.308/.394 slash line in 157 games in the 2024 regular season. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Earns $2.3 million deal
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 2:17 PM
The Astros and Meyers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: It's a substantial pay bump for Meyers, who was eligible for arbitration for the first time. The outfielder slashed .219/.286/.360 with 13 homers and 11 steals over 148 games for Houston in 2024 and should operate as its primary center fielder again in 2025. |
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Bryan Abreu Bryan Abreu Avoids arbitration with Houston
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 2:14 PM
The Astros and Abreu avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.45 million contract Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: He was arbitration-eligible for a second time this winter. Abreu's ERA rose to 3.10 ERA in 2024, but he notched 100 strikeouts in relief for the second year in a row and will again be a primary setup man ahead of closer Josh Hader in the Houston bullpen in 2025. |
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Chas McCormick Chas McCormick Settles at $3.4 million
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 1:17 PM
The Astros and McCormick avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.4 million contract Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: McCormick was arbitration-eligible this winter for the second time. The outfielder cratered to a .576 OPS in 94 regular-season games in 2024 following an .842 OPS in 2023. McCormick currently appears in line for regular playing time in 2025, although the Astros might not be done making roster additions. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Settles with Houston
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:56 PM
Paredes agreed to a one-year, $6.625 million contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Paredes slashed just .223/.325/.307 over 212 plate appearances after being dealt to the Cubs at last year's trade deadline. Despite his poor end to the season, he'll receive a $3.225 million raise from the Astros, who are expected to use the 25-year-old regularly at third base. |
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Mauricio Dubon Mauricio Dubon Gets $5 million from Houston
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 11:32 AM
The Astros and Dubon avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5 million contract Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: This was Dubon's third of four arbitration-eligible years. The utility player slashed .269/.296/.361 with four homers in 137 games with the Astros in 2024. He underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb in October but will be ready to roll for spring training. |
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Luis Garcia Luis Garcia Avoids arbitration
Wed, Jan 8, 2025, 5:17 PM
Garcia (elbow) signed a one-year, $1.875 million contract with the Astros on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Garcia's salary won't change much from the $1.88 million he received last season, which makes sense considering he hasn't appeared in a big-league game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023. However, the 28-year-old righty has been throwing live BP since September, so he figures to have a good chance at being ready for the start of spring training. |
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Zack Short Zack Short Inks NRI deal with Houston
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 11:53 AM
The Astros signed Short to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Short accrued 88 plate appearances between the Mets, Red Sox and Atlanta in 2024, slashing just .129/.282/.171. He will provide utility depth in the minors for Houston. |
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Miguel Castro Miguel Castro Latches on with Houston
Mon, Dec 30, 2024, 8:53 PM
Castro agreed to a minor-league contract with Houston on Monday, which includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Castro will get an opportunity to earn a spot in the big-league club's bullpen during spring camp after posting a 5.93 ERA and 1.68 WHIP with eight strikeouts over 13.2 innings a season ago in Arizona. He recorded seven saves for the Diamondbacks during the 2023 regular season, though he's primarily been utilized as a setup man during his time in the big leagues. |
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Grae Kessinger Grae Kessinger Designated for assignment
Mon, Dec 23, 2024, 4:49 PM
The Astros designated Kessinger for assignment Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the signing of Christian Walker, which was made official Monday. Kessinger, 27, is 8-for-61 at the plate over the last two seasons in the majors and has a career .694 OPS in the minors, but it's possible he'll draw interest from a team in need of utility infielder depth. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Agrees to deal with Houston
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 12:05 PM
The Astros agreed to terms on a three-year, $60 million contract with Walker on Friday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Analysis: The Astros have their first baseman, which means Isaac Paredes will play third base and Alex Bregman is likely to sign somewhere else. Walker, who turns 34 in March, is the premier defensive first baseman in the game, having won three straight Gold Gloves and boasting the defensive metrics to match. He's also averaged 31.7 home runs over the last three seasons and should provide a boost in the middle of the Astros' lineup, provided he doesn't experience a steep aging curve like Jose Abreu. |
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Hayden Wesneski Hayden Wesneski Goes to Houston in Tucker trade
Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 1:53 PM
The Astros acquired Wesneski, Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith from the Cubs on Friday in exchange for Kyle Tucker, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Wesneski put up a 3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 67:21 K:BB over 67.2 innings with the Cubs this past season, splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. He'll surely be stretched out during spring training, but the right-hander's ultimate role next season could depend on what other moves Houston makes this winter. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Headed to Houston
Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 1:49 PM
The Astros acquired Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith from the Cubs on Friday in exchange for Kyle Tucker, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Astros reportedly tried to trade for Paredes at the deadline before he went to the Cubs, but they've now got their man after his pit stop in Chicago. Paredes slashed a pedestrian .238/.346/.393 with 19 home runs in 2024 between the Rays and Cubs, but his pull-heavy swing is perfect for his new home park, giving him a good chance to bounce back in the power department in 2025. Currently, Paredes would be in line to play third base for the Astros, but he could shift over to first base if the club re-signs Alex Bregman. |
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Joe Hudson Joe Hudson Catches on with Houston
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 10:26 AM
The Astros signed Hudson to a minor-league contract Dec. 9.
Analysis: Hudson, 33, got into one game with the Mets in 2024, which was his first action at the big-league level since 2020. He provides organizational catching depth and should be assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the 2025 campaign. |
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Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Less action in left field for 2025?
Mon, Dec 9, 2024, 4:51 PM
Manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like to "cut back" on Alvarez's playing time in left field for the 2025 season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Of the 147 regular-season games Alvarez played in 2024, 94 of them were as the designated hitter compared to 53 games in left field. Part of Espada's desire to restrict Alvarez's playing time in the outfield is partially due with the left-handed slugger's right knee sprain toward the end of the 2024 regular season. If Alvarez serves as the Astros' full-time DH for 2025, that would mean more playing time in the outfield for the likes of Chas McCormick, Mauricio Dubon and 24-year-old Zach Dezenzo, who Rome notes played in left field during winter baseball in Puerto Rico. |
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Steven Okert Steven Okert Signs minors deal with Houston
Tue, Nov 12, 2024, 9:51 PM
Okert signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Nov. 5.
Analysis: Okert appeared in 44 games for the Twins in 2024, putting up a 5.09 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 35.1 innings -- his worst statistical season since 2017. The 33-year-old southpaw will have an opportunity to bounce back with the Astros organization, though he will likely need to redeem himself at Triple-A Sugar Land before getting a chance to pitch for Houston. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Traded to Houston
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 2:33 PM
The Astros acquired Trammell from the Yankees on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Trammell was just added to the 40-man roster over the weekend to keep him from reaching minor-league free agency and now has been flipped to a new team. The 27-year-old has hit just .167/.270/.363 with a 37.1 percent strikeout rate over parts of four major-league seasons. |
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