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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Mauricio Dubón homered twice and Josh Hader stayed perfect in 19 save chances this season by getting Mike Trout to line out to center field with a runner on second as the Houston Astros held off the Los Angeles Angels 8-7 in the rubber game of their series Sunday.
DUBI SENDS ONE OUT! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/XqKhVxPgOs
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Dubón's second career multihomer game began with a leadoff shot against starter Kyle Hendricks in the fifth inning for the Astros' first run. Dubón added a two-run drive off Hunter Strickland for a 6-5 lead in the sixth.
DOUBLE DUBI DAY! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHRkGz pic.twitter.com/4dx2q3rvUa
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Jeremy Peña had an RBI double and Jake Meyers added a sacrifice fly to make it 8-5.
Nolan Schanuel hit an RBI single for the Angels in the seventh, and Zach Neto trimmed it to 8-7 with a solo homer off Hader in the ninth. Schanuel finished with three hits and four RBIs.
Peña hit his 11th home run one out after Dubón’s shot in the fifth to tie it 2-all. Meyers singled, stole second and scored on a two-out error by Luis Rengifo at third base. Christian Walker followed with an RBI double for a 4-2 lead.
Taylor Ward had a two-out double off Astros rookie Ryan Gusto, and Logan O'Hoppe hit his third two-run homer in two days to give the Angels a 2-0 lead in the second. O'Hoppe has 17 home runs and is closing in on the team record for a catcher set by Lance Parrish with 22 in 1990.
LaMonte Wade Jr. and Christian Moore singled in the bottom half, and Schanuel gave the Angels a 5-4 lead with his sixth homer.
Gusto (5-3) allowed five runs and six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.
Hendricks permitted five runs — three earned — in five innings. Strickland (1-2) worked an inning and was tagged with his first three earned runs this season.
Key moment
The Angels had a run in with two on and two outs down 8-6 in the seventh with Trout coming to bat. Bryan Abreu replaced Bryan King and needed just three pitches to strike out Trout swinging on a pitch in the dirt.
Key stat
Trout went 1 for 11 after entering the series as the active leader against Houston with 30 homers, 30 doubles and 73 RBIs.
Up next
Houston returns home to play the Philadelphia Phillies beginning Tuesday.
The Angels hadn't announced a starter for Monday's series opener against RHP Walker Buehler (5-5, 5.95 ERA) and the visiting Boston Red Sox.
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