MLB insider lays out Astros' master plan for 2025 and beyond

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Astros Yordan Alvarez, Yainer Diaz, Josh Hader
Expect the Astros to add another bat this offseason. Composite Getty Image.

Following the trade of Kyle Tucker to the Cubs, it's still unclear how the Astros plan to replace his production. Isaac Paredes will certainly be part of the solution, but there's still a real possibility that Alex Bregman has played his last game in a Houston uniform.

MLB.com's Brian McTaggart joined Brian Kenny on MLB Network this week and revealed some shocking results from a poll of Astros fans. The poll indicated most fans are okay with the Tucker trade, knowing there was no way the team would sign him long-term after the season.

McTaggart also indicated the Astros have a lot more work to do this offseason filling out the roster, especially if the club is unable to re-sign Alex Bregman. McTaggart believes there's too big a gap between Houston's offer, and what Bregman can command on the open market.

If he's correct and Bregman does sign elsewhere, Houston will have to pivot and find another bat to insert in the lineup. Considering the Astros concerning outfield depth, McTaggart believes former Orioles' outfielder Anthony Santander could be a good solution for Houston.

If not Santander, the club could have interest in signing former Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker, or trading for Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.

Be sure to watch the video above as the guys break down the Astros' plan of attack, with Tucker now in Chicago.

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Jalen Green helped the Rockets even the series! Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Jalen Green made eight 3-pointers and scored 38 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 109-94 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in a testy matchup to even the first-round Western Conference series at one game apiece.

The seventh-seeded Warriors never led and played short-handed for most of the night after Jimmy Butler left with a pelvis contusion after a hard fall on a foul late in the first quarter.

Green, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, rebounded from a flop in his playoff debut, when he scored just seven points on 3-of-15 shooting, with a dominant Game 2.

His eight 3-pointers were two more than the No. 2-seeded Rockets made on 6-of-29 shooting in a 95-85 Game 1 loss.

Alperen Sengun had 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Rockets. Tari Eason had 14 points off the bench.

Game 2 is Saturday night at Golden State.

Stephen Curry had 20 points and nine assists for the Warriors and become the 11th player in NBA history to reach 4,000 career playoff points with 4,017.

Houston led by 20 with about 10 minutes left before the Warriors used a 9-0 run, with two 3s from Quinten Post, run to get within 11. Jalen Green was called for a flagrant foul on Draymond Green at the end of that run after he flailed an arm into his face.

The Rockets then used an 8-0 spurt, highlighted by a step-back 3 from Green, to extend the lead to 99-80 with 5 ½ minutes remaining. Draymond Green received a technical foul in that stretch for arguing with officials and Eason received one for throwing a towel in an “unsportsmanlike manner.”

The loss of Butler, acquired from Miami in a February trade, was a huge blow to the Warriors after he had 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the series opener. On top of Butler’s injury, the Warriors were also hampered by Brandin Podziemski’s stomach ailment.

He missed most of the first half dealing with the problem and was scoreless in 14 minutes after scoring 14 points in Game 1.

Final Thoughts

Vanessa Richardson was joined by Sengun after the big win!

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