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Bryan Abreu Bryan Abreu Earns $5.85 million with Houston
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 6:59 PM
Abreu signed a one-year, $5.85 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Abreu was one of five relief pitchers in 2025 to record 100-plus strikeouts, doing so for a third consecutive season while boasting a 35.5 percent strikeout rate and 41.2 percent whiff rate. He finished the year with a 2.28 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 25 holds over 71 innings while also recorded a career-high seven saves, though that opportunity came only after Josh Hader (shoulder) landed on the IL in mid-August. With Hader on track to be fully healthy by Opening Day, Abreu should remain in his high-leverage role out of the Astros' bullpen in 2026. |
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Nick Allen Nick Allen Secures $1.4 million deal
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 4:38 PM
Allen agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The 27-year-old was traded from Atlanta to Houston earlier in the offseason and is now officially under contract for 2026. Allen played in 135 games last season but is likely to work in more of a reserve role for Houston after posting a .221/.284/.251 slash line in 2025. |
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Jesus Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Reaches deal with Houston
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 4:02 PM
Sanchez agreed to a one-year, $6.8 million contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The 28-year-old outfielder is entering his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility after being traded from Miami to Houston at last year's summer deadline. Sanchez posted a .740 OPS for the Marlins last season but scuffled to a .611 OPS after being dealt to the Astros. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Collects $5.71 million for 2026
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 3:18 PM
Brown agreed to a one-year, $5.71 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The right-hander will receive a well-earned raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Brown positioned himself as Houston's ace in 2025, posting a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 206:57 K:BB across 185.1 innings. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Settles at $3.55 million
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 2:41 PM
Meyers agreed to a one-year, $3.55 million contract with the Astros on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Meyers' batting average jumped up from .219 in the 2024 regular season to .292 in 2025, although a calf strain forced him to miss two months and limited him to just three homers, 24 RBI, 53 runs scored and 16 steals on the year. The 30-year-old's increased efficiency will grant him a $1.25 million raise for the 2026 campaign, and he'll likely open the year as Houston's everyday center fielder. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Secures $9.475 million deal
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 2:34 PM
Pena agreed to a one-year, $9.475 million contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Pena was a reliable shortstop across his first three MLB campaigns, but his breakout in 2025 will more than double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The 28-year-old posted a career-best .304/.363/.477 slash line with 17 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 62 RBI and 68 runs in 125 games. He missed the final week of the season due to an oblique injury and was also sidelined by a rib issue earlier in the year, but he should be healthy to begin 2026. |
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Bennett Sousa Bennett Sousa Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 12:14 PM
Sousa (elbow) signed a one-year, $910,000 contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Sousa emerged as a key contributor in the Astros' bullpen in 2025, posting a 2.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 50.2 innings before elbow inflammation put an early end to his season. The lefty's performance will earn him a $150,000 raise during his first year of arbitration eligibility, and he figures to reprise his role as a setup man for closer Josh Hader in 2026. |
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Steven Okert Steven Okert Reaches deal for 2026
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 11:30 AM
Okert agreed to a one-year, $2.325 million contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The left-hander had a successful first year in Houston during 2025, recording one save and 11 holds with a 3.01 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 84:19 K:BB across 71.2 innings. Okert should operate as part of the setup mix for the Astros again in 2026. |
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Hayden Wesneski Hayden Wesneski Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 9:32 AM
Wesneski (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $975,000 deal with the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The two sides avoid arbitration, as Wesneski continues working his way back from Tommy John surgery in May 2025. He'll likely be sidelined until around midseason, but could provide rotation depth and bullpen help in the second half. The 28-year-old righty logged a 4.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 29:6 K:BB in six starts (32 innings) for the Astros in 2025 before the injury. |
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Kaleb Ort Kaleb Ort Dropped from 40-man
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 4:10 PM
The Astros designated Ort (elbow) for assignment Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Ort posted a 4.89 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 46 innings with the Astros in 2025 before missing the final month of the season due to elbow inflammation. He'll now lose his place on Houston's 40-man roster to make room for Tatsuya Imai. |
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Brice Matthews Brice Matthews To play some outfield in 2026
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 11:34 AM
Matthews is still viewed as a second baseman long term, but he'll get some run in the outfield in 2026, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: "He's going to get some run in the outfield, but second base is still going to be his main position," general manager Dana Brown said. "We project he'll turn the corner with the bat and get maybe some run in the outfield a little bit, as well." Matthews is situated as a backup option at shortstop and second base, but he'd need an injury to Jeremy Pena or Jose Altuve to get regular run in the middle infield in 2026. The Astros probably aren't done making moves this offseason, but Brown and manager Joe Espada were complimentary about Matthews' potential in the short term and long term. Matthews is a great athlete with plus speed and above-average raw power. He slashed .260/.371/.458 with 17 home runs, 41 steals and a 27.9 percent strikeout rate in 112 games in the Pacific Coast League. A .167 BABIP and 42.6 percent strikeout rate led to a .167 batting average and .222 on-base percentage in the majors, but he showed off his tools with four home runs and one steal in 13 games. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Heading to Houston
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 1:04 PM
The Astros are acquiring Burrows from the Pirates on Friday in a three-team trade that also includes the Rays, Chandler Rome, Stephen J. Nesbitt and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Burrows opened 2025 in the minors but made his season debut for the Pirates in May, and he delivered a strong rookie campaign with a 3.94 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 97:31 K:BB across 96 innings. The right-hander is the only piece heading to the Astros in the deal, with Brandon Lowe, Mason Montgomery and Jake Mangum moving to Pittsburgh while the Rays get Anderson Brito and Jacob Melton. Burrows should slot into the middle of Houston's rotation during his sophomore campaign. |
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Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Slated for designated hitter duty
Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 5:20 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like Alvarez (ankle) to "spend most of his season" at designated hitter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Alvarez started 32 games at DH and 15 in left field during his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, and Houston wants to limit his time in the field in hopes that it will help keep him healthy. While it makes sense for the Astros to do everything they can to keep Alvarez's bat in the lineup, it makes for a difficult lineup construction for Espada, especially when it comes to where Isaac Paredes (hamstring) slots in. Alvarez's 2025 season ended prematurely due to a severe left ankle sprain, but general manager Dana Brown said Monday that the slugger will be ready to go for the start of spring training. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Resumes workouts
Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 3:52 PM
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Altuve (foot) has resumed workouts, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Altuve underwent a minor procedure last month to remove fluid between the fourth and fifth toes on his right foot, an injury he played through down the stretch of the regular season. The 35-year-old is not expected to have any limitations at the start of spring training. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes To be 'full-go' for spring training
Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 3:50 PM
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Paredes (hamstring) will be "full-go" at the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Brown said during last month's general managers' meetings that Paredes wasn't fully recovered from his right hamstring tear and that the infielder likely wouldn't be 100 percent by spring training. Now, however, Brown seems confident that Paredes will not have any limitations when camp opens. Paredes should have an everyday role for Houston in 2026 -- assuming he's not traded -- though it's not yet clear what position he will play. |
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Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Will be full-go for start of spring
Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 3:39 PM
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Alvarez (ankle) will be "full go" for the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Alvarez went down with a severe left ankle sprain late in the regular season. Brown said nearly a month ago that Alvarez had resumed jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, and while it's unclear how much, if at all, the slugger has progressed with his running since then, Alvarez is not expected to be limited at the start of spring training. Additionally, manager Joe Espada added that his preference is for Alvarez to spend most of his time at designated hitter in 2026, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. The 28-year-old will remain an injury risk heading into the 2026 campaign, however, after being limited to only 48 contests in 2025, mostly due to a fracture in his right hand. |
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Logan VanWey Logan VanWey Sent outright to Sugar Land
Fri, Dec 5, 2025, 4:48 PM
VanWey cleared waivers Friday and was outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: VanWey reached the majors for the first time in 2025 and logged a 5.06 ERA alongside a 1.69 WHIP over 10.2 innings. He now seems poised to begin the new season back in Triple-A, and the Astros could look to fill his spot on the 40-man roster during the Rule 5 Draft. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Outrighted to Triple-A
Fri, Dec 5, 2025, 4:42 PM
Trammell cleared waivers Friday and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Trammell signed a split contract with Houston in November that would've paid him $900,000 if he were in the big leagues, but it now appears that he will begin the 2026 campaign in the minors. The 28-year-old outfielder owns a .632 OPS over 494 plate appearances in his big-league career and likely wouldn't serve as more than a bench piece if he made it back to the majors in '26. |
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Amos Willingham Amos Willingham Lands with Houston on MiLB deal
Wed, Dec 3, 2025, 1:46 PM
The Astros signed Willingham to a minor-league contract Nov. 28.
Analysis: Willingham, 27, spent the 2025 season in the minors in the Atlanta organization, collecting a 5.17 ERA and 64:18 K:BB over 55.2 frames. The righty has a 7.11 ERA over 19 appearances at the big-league level and will give the Astros some experienced relief depth at Triple-A Sugar Land. |
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Carlos Perez Carlos Perez Lands MiLB pact with Houston
Wed, Dec 3, 2025, 1:42 PM
The Astros signed Perez to a minor-league contract Nov. 28.
Analysis: Perez spent all of the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Iowa in the Cubs organization, putting up a .944 OPS with 27 long balls. The 35-year-old last saw action at the big-league level in 2023 and will provide the Astros with experienced catching depth at Triple-A Sugar Land. |
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