Why Astros should approach potential Houston homecomings with an abundance of caution
NOT SO FAST
18 January
The Houston Astros received some disappointing news this week when it was revealed that Kendall Graveman would be out for the season with shoulder surgery.
Which means Houston is losing four members of their top-notch bullpen from 2023. The Astros pen is a big reason for their success the last couple of years, and now they only have two relievers that can be trusted in Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu.
Plus, they haven't signed anyone of note to replace them. This week, reports surfaced about the Astros having interest in bringing back Hector Neris. Neris is reportedly seeking a 3-year deal in the neighborhood of $50 million.
That's close to the disaster of a contract they handed Jose Abreu last year, and both players are in their mid-thirties. As good as Neris was last season, it's hard to imagine the Astros signing Neris to a massive deal like this. It's just not what they typically do. Or should do for that matter.
But they need to do something. Outside of Pressly and Abreu, nobody in their current bullpen has any substantial record of success in the big leagues. And that includes Rafael Montero. He had one good year and has been completely ineffective in high leverage situations before and after 2022. With an ERA over 5 in 2023, we're not counting on that guy, and for good reason.
Could Phil Maton be an option to bring back? The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported that Maton has received less interest on the market than some anticipated. He could be an option, and would be significantly more affordable than Neris.
So what are the Astros going to do?
Check the video above as we break it all down.
Dylan Cease pitched brilliantly into the ninth inning and Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Donovan Solano hit consecutive homers in the eighth for the San Diego Padres, who beat the AL West-leading Houston Astros 4-0 on Wednesday.
Machado homered twice for the Padres, who won two of three against the Astros and stayed two games ahead of Arizona for the first NL wild card. The Astros came in with a five-game division lead over Seattle.
Cease (14-11), who threw his first career no-hitter on July 25 at Washington, took a one-hitter into the ninth before Mauricio Dubón beat out an infield single to shortstop. Cease struck out Jake Meyers but then shortstop Xander Bogaerts booted Jose Altuve's grounder for an error that allowed Dubón to take third, and that was it for the right-hander after 103 pitches.
Cease retired the first 15 Astros batters before allowing a single to right field by Jason Heyward to open the sixth. Cease then retired the side.
Cease struck out five and walked none. Tanner Scott got two outs for his 21st save.
Machado, who has 29 homers, lined a shot to left-center off Framber Valdez opening the sixth.
Tatis, who struck out in his first three at-bats, hit reliever Kaleb Ort's first pitch into the first row in left-center leading off the eighth. It was his 19th. Machado followed with a shot deep into the seats in left and Solano hit a liner to left, his seventh. That was it for Ort, who threw just nine pitches.
Valdez (14-7) went seven innings, allowing one run and five hits while striking out six and walking two.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: 1B/DH Luis Arraez got the day off to rest his sore left knee, which he jammed into home plate while being thrown out on Monday night. Arraez started at DH on Tuesday night.
UP NEXT
Astros: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.29 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels, who will go with LHP José Suarez (1-2, 6.80).
Padres: Hadn't announced their starter for Friday night's home series opener against the Chicago White Sox.
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