FREE AGENCY PREVIEW

With a busy offseason ahead, here are some big names that could join the Astros

Astros Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman
The Astros roster will have a different look next season. Composite image by Jack Brame.
How Astros final stretch of games will perfectly set the tone for postseason

With the division won and a likely top seed clinch in the coming days, the Astros are rightly focused on finishing the regular season strong and heading into the postseason with as much momentum as they can bring with them. Still, that won't stop the Hot Stove chatter that will likely pick up steam quickly as we near the offseason.

In recent years, Houston has done a great job of replacing top-tier talent that many would've deemed irreplaceable at the time. The likes of George Springer and Carlos Correa, dear to the hearts of Astros fans, made bittersweet departures, yet the Astros have found the right combination of players to fill those voids.

How long can that be sustained, though? A recent ranking of farm systems put the Astros 29th, better than only the Angels, in terms of their minor-league talent pool. The draft pick hits handed down due to the sign-stealing scandal have been a part of that. So, if it is indeed the case that the well is running dry in terms of home-grown talent, what if the Astros shifted strategy and started being more aggressive in the free agent market?

Houston has several players hitting free agency themselves

Like in the last few years, the Astros will see some turnover this offseason, though to which degree will be determined by who they choose to pick up options or give offers high enough to get re-signings.

Justin Verlander will likely not execute his half of the mutual option, which would bring him back to Houston for $25 million. The presumptive Cy Young winner will probably get much more, whether with Houston in a new contract or elsewhere.

The Astros are in line to lose one of their catchers, with the rental period for Christian Vázquez ending after this season. Yuli Gurriel will also be hitting the market and potentially playing for a team other than Houston for the first time should someone else give him a contract offer he accepts.

Michael Brantley, absent most of this season with an injury, will also see his time with the Astros coming to an end if a new contract doesn't happen. Pair those players leaving potential holes in the roster, along with a strong free agent class this offseason, and what could the 2023 Houston Astros look like if they make some big moves?

Time for upgrades?

Let's assume for these scenarios that the Astros don't work out deals to re-sign some of the players mentioned earlier. With Vázquez gone, who do the Astros turn to at catcher besides Martin Maldonado? Sure, they have some young talent available, like Korey Lee and Yainer Diaz, but what if they want to go further?

The Astros were already part of the rumor mill for Chicago Cubs' Wilson Contreras at this year's trade deadline. He shapes up to be the top catcher available this offseason, so it could make sense for Houston to finally get him on their team. If Gurriel goes elsewhere, a few potential players could also fill his spot, like 2020 AL MVP José Abreu.

To replace Brantley as an outfielder and decent bat, the Astros could take their pick from a long list of outfielders, such as Andrew Benintendi, Brandon Nimmo, and Mitch Haniger, to name a few. Still, the Astros could really make some waves if they bring in some even bigger names.

The huge splashes that would shake things up

Let's talk about the names that will be the focal point of the Hot Stove, though. Jeremy Peña had big shoes to fill this season, and in his first full year at the shortstop position, he has been more than adequate. But what if Carlos Correa opts out of his contract with the Twins, and a potential reunion is in order? Or, what if Houston goes even further and has a chance to go after some of the league's best, like Trea Turner?

There's no question that Houston's pitching in 2022 has been one of, if not the best, staff in all of baseball. If Verlander opts out to get a bigger payday, could the Astros try to get a new elite-tier ace to lead their rotation? Two names could cause a frenzy; Jacob DeGrom and Carlos Rodón, who both have opt-outs available if they think they could garner more money elsewhere.

Then, there's the ultimate signing that some team will get ahead of 2023, and that's Aaron Judge. The Yankees made a costly mistake by not working out a deal with him before this season, as he has gone on to put together one of the best seasons ever. While there may be some lingering animosity on his end from the 2017 sign-stealing scandal, what if, and it's a big if, he buries that hatchet? What if he wants to really stick it to his former team and join the side of the rivalry that has been a thorn in New York's side in recent postseasons?

These scenarios may be, and in the case of Judge likely is, a pipe dream in some cases, but there's no question that the Astros will need to make some moves this winter if they want to keep their championship window open as wide as it is today.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
Welcome to Houston, Nick! Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Nick Chubb didn’t expect to be a Houston Texan. At least, not until he got the call on a quiet Saturday at home and was on a flight the next day. It happened fast — too fast, even, for the four-time Pro Bowler to fully process what it all meant. But now that he’s here, it’s clear this wasn’t a random landing spot. This was a calculated leap, one Chubb had been quietly considering from afar.

The reasons he chose Houston speak volumes not only about where Chubb is in his own career, but where the Texans are as a franchise.

For one, Chubb saw what the rest of the league saw the last two seasons: a young team turning the corner. He admired the Texans from a distance — the culture shift under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the explosive rise of C.J. Stroud, and the physical tone set by players like Joe Mixon. That identity clicked with Chubb. He’d been a fan of Ryans for years, and once he got in the building, everything aligned.

“I came here and saw a bunch of guys who like to work and not talk,” Chubb said. “And I realized I'm a perfect fit.”

As for his health, Chubb isn’t running from the injuries that cost him parts of the past two seasons, he’s owning them. But now, he says, they’re behind him. After a full offseason of training the way he always has — hitting his speed and strength benchmarks — Chubb says he’s feeling the best he has in years. He’s quick to remind people that bouncing back from major injuries, especially the one he suffered in 2023, is rarely a one-year journey. It takes time. He’s given it time.

Then there’s his fit with Mixon. The two aren’t just stylistic complements, they go way back. Same recruiting class, same reputation for running hard, same respect for each other’s games. Chubb remembers dreading matchups against the Bengals in Cleveland, worrying Mixon would take over the game. Now, he sees the opportunity in pairing up. “It’ll be us kinda doing that back-to-back against other defenses,” he said.

He’s also well aware of what C.J. Stroud brings to the table. Chubb watched Stroud nearly dismantle Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Then he saw it again, up close, when Stroud lit up the Browns in the postseason. “He torched us again,” Chubb said. Now, he gets to run alongside him, not against him.

Stroud made a point to welcome Chubb, exchanging numbers and offering support. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s the kind of leadership that helped sell Chubb on the Texans as more than just a good football fit — it’s a good locker room fit, too.

It appears the decision to come to Houston wasn’t part of some master plan. But in retrospect, it makes perfect sense. Chubb is a player with a no-nonsense work ethic, recovering from adversity, looking to write the next chapter of a career that’s far from over. And the Texans? They’re a team on the rise, built around guys who want to do the same.

You can watch the full interview in the video below.

And for those wondering how Joe Mixon feels about Nick Chubb, check out this video from last season. Let's just say he's a fan.


*ChatGPT assisted.

___________________________

Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!

https://houston.sportsmap.com/advertise

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome