How these surprising Houston Astros projections point to a bizarre path forward
FUTURE SHOCK
21 December 2023
It's been an exciting offseason in MLB so far, with Shohei Ohtani signing with the Dodgers, and Juan Soto being traded to the New York Yankees.
But for Houston Astros fans, there hasn't been much to get excited about with the team limiting their spending. Astros fans are also preparing for the departure of Alex Bregman after the season, and rumors of trade talks about Framber Valdez have been swirling over the last week or so.
While we don't expect Valdez to be moved, there are reports about money being an issue for the club, which has many wondering if their championship window is closing quickly.
Baseball America put together some projections for what the Astros roster could look like several years from now.
So let's get right to it. Here's what the Astros 2027 roster could look like, according to Baseball America:
Projected 2027 Lineup
Catcher: Yainer Diaz (28)
First Base: Zach Dezenzo (27)
Second Base: Jose Altuve (37)
Third Base: Brice Matthews (25)
Shortstop: Jeremy Peña (29)
Left Field: Luis Baez (23)
Center Field: Jacob Melton (26)
Right Field: Kyle Tucker (30)
Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez (30)
No. 1 Starter: Cristian Javier (30)
No. 2 Starter: Hunter Brown (28)
No. 3 Starter: Spencer Arrighetti (27)
No. 4 Starter: Alonzo Tredwell (25)
No. 5 Starter: Andrew Taylor (25)
Closer: Bryan Abreu (30)
What are the biggest surprises?
We have to start with Kyle Tucker. It's hard to find anyone that thinks the Astros are going to meet his contract demands. However, when looking at the roster, they're not spending money on much else. So, who knows, if they approach the roster in this fashion, maybe Tucker could still be on the team.
It may not be a surprise, but this roster doesn't include Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, or Lance McCullers. And Cristian Javier would be in the last year of his deal in 2027. The Astros are putting a lot of faith in their development of pitchers with these projections.
Is the championship window still open with this lineup?
Probably not, unless several of these prospects reach the ceiling of their potential. Plus, it's not like Jim Crane to roll with a middle of the road roster like this.
But there is a lot of potential with many of these prospects. Players like Luis Baez and Brice Matthews are only in A ball, so it's hard to know what they'll be capable of in 2027.
Finally, if money issues continue to be an issue for Houston, do we expect Jim Crane to still own the team in 2027?
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss the upside for these prospects, the teams' outlook moving forward, and much more.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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