Astros roulette: 1 player who should be signed, 1 that won't, and 1 that should never be
ASTROS HOT STOVE
03 November 2023
MLB free agency is set to get started on Monday and there are several players to discuss that are likely on the Astros' wish list or have been linked to the club in various articles and reports.
Juan Soto has been mentioned as a player the Astros should target, and he's not even a free agent until next season. Plus, he's expected to make around $27 million in arbitration this year, so don't count him wearing an Astros uniform anytime soon. The team would have to trade for him and pay him big money. This doesn't sound like a Jim Crane move.
Another player linked to Houston is Rangers reliever Aroldis Chapman. Former MLB executive, Jim Bowden, believes he would be a good fit for Houston, and he may only require a 2-year deal for $12 million. Chapman will be 36 when the season begins, and it's hard to imagine Astros fans would be excited for him to join the club. But the Astros are expected to lose Phil Maton, Hector Neris, and Ryne Stanek in free agency, so he could be a decent option to consider.
The player we're most excited about is Arizona outfielder Lourdes Gurriel. With Michael Brantley's contract expiring, the team could use another outfielder that can play good defense and hit. But he won't come cheap. MLBTradeRumors.com projects he could command around 20 million per season.
So which player/players make the most sense for Houston?
Watch the video above for the full discussion.
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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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