ASTROS OUTLOOK
With Abreu secured, Astros must address next million-dollar question(s)
Nov 29, 2022, 3:49 pm
Will Uncle Mike get signed next? Composite image by Brandon Strange.
With Abreu secured, Astros must address next million-dollar question(s)
The Houston Astros have added another stellar bat to their already deep lineup with the signing of first baseman Jose Abreu to a three-year deal worth $58.5 million.
The 35-year-old Cuban native is second in Major League Baseball with 863 RBI since his rookie season in 2014 and won the 2020 American League MVP.
Last season with the White Sox, Abreu hit .304/.378/.446 and has a career .292 batting average.
So with Abreu now in the fold, what will the Astros do next?
His addition to the Astros seems to indicate the likely departure of Yuli Gurriel via free agency.
The former AL batting champion played well in the playoffs, but had a down year offensively in the regular season hitting .242/.288/.360.
Gurriel’s Gold Glove caliber defense isn’t to blame for his potential departure, but rather Abreu brings more to the plate and is three years younger.
Although Gurriel will be missed, Astros fans should be excited about the addition of another MVP.
Without changing the batting order, Abreu could take Gurriel’s spot behind Kyle Tucker and add more power and RBI to this already lethal lineup.
There is a possibility of Gurriel returning to a utility position, but Mauricio Dubón and David Hensley are both younger and more affordable options for that role.
Another free agent, Michael Brantley, has said he would like to return. Given the option between the two, Houston would benefit more from re-signing Brantley, who would fill an outfield need and continue to add production from the left side of the plate.
His leadership in the clubhouse is an asset to this team, and the Astros could certainly attempt to re-sign the 5x All-Star.
Although Houston has been linked to other free agents that include Michael Conforto and Cody Bellinger as potential outfield options, the Astros might already have a solution to fill that need.
Chas McCormick has proven himself to be a quality center fielder with World Series success, and if Jake Meyers could return to his 2021 form, he would be an excellent in-house option to fill that need without overpaying a free agent.
The Astros will continue to browse the free agent market, but could fill their voids with players already in their system as they have done in the past.
Houston has replaced Gerrit Cole, George Springer and Carlos Correa in consecutive years with All-Star caliber players such as Framber Valdez, Kyle Tucker and World Series MVP Jeremy Pena.
The Astros find ways to win by promoting from within, and signing free agents as necessary.
Abreu might be their biggest addition of the offseason unless a deal can be made to re-sign Justin Verlander.
If last season’s Cy-Young Award winner were to leave, the Astros’ rotation would still be in good hands with six potential starters.
Regardless of Verlander’s decision, Houston will continue to be the number one contender in the American League.
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After dropping a frustrating series to the Chicago White Sox, the Houston Astros find themselves in a familiar position—searching for answers, but still within striking distance. Despite their inconsistency, Houston sits just three games behind the AL West-leading Mariners, who are currently 7 games over .500 and riding an 8-2 stretch. For as up-and-down as the Astros have been, the division remains tantalizingly close.
That inconsistency was on full display throughout the White Sox series. Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo each played the roles of both hero and heartbreaker. Dezenzo launched a massive home run in Game 3, a moment that energized the dugout and briefly shifted momentum. But his costly defensive error later in the game flipped the script. Meyers was a spark plug in Houston’s lone win, delivering a clutch performance at the plate, only to run the team out of a rally in the finale when he was picked off second—right before Jeremy Peña ripped what would have been an RBI single.
Jose Altuve’s struggles are quietly becoming more worrisome. He’s recorded just one multi-hit game since April 19 and has only one homer since April 8. On Sunday, he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had grinded through a 33-pitch inning—a decision that raised questions about his awareness in a veteran moment. Should manager Joe Espada have reminded Altuve of the situation? Or is this on Altuve, who should have known what to do as one of the team leaders?
Signs of life
There are flickers of life from the bats. Last week, Houston's team OPS was an underwhelming .667 (23rd in MLB), with a slugging percentage of .357 (25th). They've nudged those numbers up to .684 (19th) and .370 (21st), respectively. It’s modest progress, but enough to suggest this offense might be trending in the right direction. Still, their 5-5 record over the last 10 games feels emblematic of who they are right now—a .500 team with both talent and flaws.
Looking ahead
The upcoming schedule could be a turning point. Three of the next five opponents have losing records, and none of them are elite. This stretch offers a prime opportunity for Houston to finally build momentum and close the gap in the division—assuming the Mariners cool off from their current tear, which seems inevitable given their unsustainable 8-2 pace.
McCullers is officially back!
Lance McCullers returned for the first time since 2022 and, despite being limited to 3.2 innings due to command issues (three walks and a hit batter), there were encouraging signs. His velocity was there, and the stuff looked sharp. It’s a start, and perhaps a step toward stabilizing a rotation that still needs length.
Steering the ship
Manager Joe Espada, however, continues to draw scrutiny. His decision-making in the finale raised eyebrows again. Giving Isaac Paredes a day off when Yordan Alvarez was already sitting left the lineup depleted. Rather than using promising young infielder/outfielder Cam Smith, he opted for Mauricio Dubón and Brendan Rodgers—a defensive combo that didn't inspire confidence. It feels at times like Espada isn’t prioritizing winning the final game of a series, a pattern that could haunt the team down the stretch.
The plot thickens
Meanwhile, Christian Walker’s slump is dragging on. He went 0-for-5 twice in the last two series and looks out of sync at the plate. The Astros need more from their power hitters if they hope to make a real run. And with Alvarez now heading to the IL with hand inflammation, runs will be even harder to come by.
All told, this team still feels like one hovering just above or below .500. But in a division that remains wide open, the path forward is clear: play better, hope the Mariners come back to earth, and capitalize on a soft schedule. The race is far from over—but it’s time for Houston to start acting like contenders.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
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